LAST UPDATE 12:19
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine performed a Divine Liturgy at the Hagia Sophia in Kyiv.
The service was held outdoors. At least 15,000 priests and faithful of the Church of Ukraine gathered for the liturgy led by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv.
The Divine Liturgy was attended by a large number of people, including the Hierarchy of the Church of Ukraine, as well as the Metropolitans and Archimandrites who accompany the Ecumenical Patriarch on his visit to Ukraine.
Also present were the Elder of Pantokratoros Monastery of the Mount Athos, Gabriel, Fr. Lucas, who prepared the Tomos of Autocephaly, Fr. Theodosios of Xenophontos Monastery, and Fr. Nikitas of Pantokratoros Monastery.
Yesterday, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided over the Vespers in the Church of St. Andrew, which is the stavropegion of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Kyiv.
The Vesper was attended by a few faithful but numerous hierarchs of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Kyiv, Bishop Mikhail Komana, Bishop Epiphanios of Olbia, and the Metropolitans who accompany the Ecumenical Patriarch.
Also present were former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, members of the Greek community in Kyiv, and well-known businessman Pantelis Boubouras.