Agreement on cooperation between Ukraine and Ecumenical Patriarch signed

In Istanbul, President Poroshenko and Patriarch Bartholomew signed an agreement on cooperation between Ukraine and the Ecumenical Patriarchate. This is the final step towards the completion of the process of granting autocephaly to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Once the historic document was signed, Petro Poroshenko said: “Today is a historical day, which roots in the first days of the restoration of independent Ukraine, when Ukrainians sought and prayed for an independent autocephalous united Orthodox Church.

Ukrainians waited for this over 1030 years. On behalf of the Ukrainian people, I am grateful to His Holiness, the Synod and the hierarchs of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the important and wise decision to open the way for the Ukrainians to God. The agreement we signed today ensures that the process of preparing to the All-Ukrainian Council, the process of granting the Tomos were brought in line with the canons of the Orthodox Church.”

The President congratulated the Ukrainians on signing the historic agreement and called for the peace and unity of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.