Metropolitan Gabriel of Nea Ionia represented the Church of Greece in a solidarity mission of the World Council of Churches (WCC) to Ukraine, held from July 14 to 17, 2026.
The visit coincided with the 30th anniversary of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO), which represents more than 90 percent of all religious organizations and communities in Ukraine.
The mission aimed to express the solidarity of Churches and Christian communities with the people of Ukraine, to receive first-hand information about the consequences of the ongoing war, and to strengthen cooperation with the country’s Churches and institutions in promoting peace, religious freedom, and humanitarian service.
During the visit, the delegation met in Kyiv with Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine, in his capacity as Chairman of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations.
During the meeting, Metropolitan Epifaniy briefed the delegation on the tragic consequences of Russia’s military aggression, referring in particular to civilian casualties, the widespread destruction of churches and religious buildings, and the recent severe damage sustained by the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.
He stressed that, despite the unprecedented challenges facing the country, the Ukrainian people remain steadfast in their struggle for freedom and national independence. He also thanked the World Council of Churches for its consistent solidarity and clear support for the Ukrainian people.
The meeting also highlighted the 30th anniversary of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, describing it as an exemplary model of inter-Christian and interreligious cooperation.
For their part, the members of the delegation reiterated their unwavering support for Ukraine, condemned the Russian aggression as illegal and morally unacceptable, and emphasized that religion must never be used to justify war.
Representing the Church of Greece, Metropolitan Gabriel conveyed the fraternal greetings and blessings of Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece and the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece to Metropolitan Epifaniy. He also expressed the sincere solidarity and support of the Church of Greece for the suffering Ukrainian people, assuring him of its constant prayers for the restoration of peace, the relief of the victims of war, and the swift reestablishment of justice and security in the region.
The delegation also met with Viktor Yelensky, Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS), and Olena Kovalska, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, representing President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Their discussions focused on the impact of the war on the country’s religious life, the protection of religious freedom, the situation of Churches in the temporarily occupied territories, and the extensive destruction of more than 800 churches and places of worship, as well as the deaths of dozens of clergy.
The parties also examined Ukraine’s current legislative framework governing religious organizations, while the Ukrainian side presented the initiatives being undertaken to safeguard the country’s constitutional order and religious freedom.
The World Council of Churches delegation reaffirmed its steadfast support for the Ukrainian people and expressed its commitment to continuing cooperation with the country’s Churches and institutions in the fields of humanitarian assistance, social ministry, the defense of religious freedom, and the promotion of peace.
As part of the mission, the delegation also held a meeting with representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), specifically Metropolitan Meletiy of Chernivtsi and Bukovina, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations and representative of Metropolitan Onufriy of Kyiv.
During the meeting, the delegation was informed about the impact of the war on the parishes, clergy, and faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, as well as the difficulties and pressures the Church continues to face in the country’s particularly complex environment.
Representatives of the UOC also presented the Church’s position regarding the complete severance of all administrative dependence on the Moscow Patriarchate, as well as Metropolitan Onufriy’s decision to withdraw from the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.
The meeting took place in an atmosphere of sincere dialogue and mutual respect.
The WCC delegation’s meetings with both of Ukraine’s major Orthodox ecclesiastical communities reflected the Council’s consistent commitment to maintaining open channels of communication with all parties in the service of dialogue, reconciliation, and peace.
The World Council of Churches has repeatedly and unequivocally condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while continuously calling for an immediate end to the war, the establishment of a just and sustainable peace, respect for international law, and continued support for the suffering people of Ukraine.
