With the blessing of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, a Delegation of the Mother Church, consisting of Metropolitan Emmanuel of France and the Patriarchal Deacon James Krochak, went to Kyiv on the day of the feast of Saint Andrew the First Called (according to the Julian calendar) at the namesake Stavropegial Church of St. Andrew in Kyiv, which since 2018 has been granted to the Ecumenical Patriarchate by the Ukrainian state.
Prior to the Divine Liturgy, the traditional Sanctification rite for the reopening of the Stavropegial Church of St. Andrew took place. It is noted that the Temple is a building of the 18th century and a historical monument for modern Kyiv. The Sanctification rite was followed by an Archieratical co-liturgy. Metropolitan Emmanuel of France presided over the Divine Liturgy along with Archbishop Yevstratiy of Chernihiv and Nizhyn and Bishop Michael (Anischenko) of Komana, Exarch of the Ecumenical Throne in Kyiv.
Former President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, government officials, MPs, as well as a representative of the Greek Embassy in Kyiv were present.
In his speech, Metropolitan Emmanuel of France referred to Saint Andrew the First Called, the founder of the Mother Church of Constantinople.
