Shortly after his arrival at Mount Athos on Friday, October 10, the Primate of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epifaniy, visited the Holy Monastery of Iviron as part of his pilgrimage.
He was received with enthusiasm and full ceremonial honor by the brotherhood of the monastery.
The welcome took place in an atmosphere of deep respect and emotion.
When Metropolitan Epiphaniy arrived at Mount Athos, accompanied by Metropolitan Apostolos of Miletus as the representative of the Ecumenical Patriarch, and by the Civil Administrator of Mount Athos, Alkiviadis Stefanis, was warmly received in Karyes.
The Metropolitan of Kyiv will visit several Holy Monasteries of Mount Athos as part of his pilgrimage trip.
During the welcome ceremony for Metropolitan Epiphaniy in Karyes, the Abbot of Esphigmenou Monastery, Archimandrite Bartholomew, was present.
Addressing the Primate of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the Abbot expressed deep emotion and respect, recalling the spiritual bonds between the monastery and Ukraine, and referring to Saint Anthony the Cave-Dweller, a saint of Esphigmenou and founder of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra (Monastery of the Caves).
Speaking also about the spiritual resistance of the Ukrainian people, the Abbot emphasized:
“Through this struggle, we feel a spiritual kinship with the struggle of the devout Ukrainian people and the Autocephalous Church of Ukraine. From the very beginning, we have stood by your side, supporting the Autocephaly granted by His All-Holiness our Ecumenical Patriarch — an act that opened a new chapter in ecclesiastical history.”
Finally, with emotion, he referred to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, underlining the need for prayer and unity:
“Unfortunately, the illegal and inhumane invasion of Russia into Ukraine coincided with the first steps of your newly established Church. We pray constantly for the end of this unholy war.”
