Patriarch Filaret spoke about Ukraine and war with President of Center for Peace and Human Rights in Oslo

On March 4, Patriarch Filaret of Kyiv and All Rus-Ukraine met at his residence with President of the Center for Peace and Human Rights in Oslo, former Prime Minister of Norway (1997-2000 and 2001-2005) Kjell Magne Bondevik.

According to the Kyiv Patriarchate’s press service, during the meeting they discussed socio-political situation in Ukraine, Russian aggression that led to the annexation of Crimea and the war in Donbas. Former Norwegian Prime Minister expressed great concern and anxiety about Ukraine and the states neighboring with Russia because of its aggression and assured of maximum support to peace in Ukraine. In turn, the Patriarch expressed his view of the need to achieve peace and stop the aggressor in Donbas, because Russian aggression endangers Ukraine along with other European countries.

On Mr. Bondevik’s request, the Patriarch told him about the religious situation in Ukraine and the relations of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate. In addition, the Patriarch spoke about working with youth and the social service that the Church performs in this difficult time for the Ukrainian people, helping the army, wounded, displaced people from Donbas and Crimeaspiritually and materially.

The meeting was attended by Chairman of External Church Relations Department Archbishop Ilarion of Rivne and Ostroh, Deputy Chairman of External Church Relations Department Archimandrite Kirion Inasaridze and senior adviser of the Center for Peace and Human Rights in Oslo, former Minister of Oil and Energy of Norway Einar Steensnaes.

The patriarch and Kjell Magne Bondevik exchanged gifts.

Kjell Magne Bondevik is the founder and President of the Center for Peace and Human Rights in Oslo (Norway). He was Prime Minister of Norway in 1997-2000 and in 2001-2005, Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1989-1990, and Minister for Education and Church in 1983-1986. Bondevik was a member of the Parliament of Norway in 1973-2005and leader of the Christian Democratic Party in 1983-1995. In 1979 he was ordained a priest of the Lutheran Church of Norway. He is a member of ‘Clubde Madrid’, an independent non-profit organization created to spread democracy and changes in society.