During their visit to Washington, D.C., from February 5-7, 2025, for the National Prayer Breakfast and events of Ukrainian Week in the United States, the delegation of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), led by Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine, conducted a series of important meetings.
With the blessing of the Primate, Metropolitan Yevstratiy of Bila Tserkva, Deputy Head of the OCU’s Department for External Church Relations, participated in the Ukrainian panel discussion at the International Summit on Religious Freedom.
In his address, he condemned the Moscow Patriarchate as an aggressive tool of Russia’s hybrid war. Additionally, at the invitation of the event organizers, Metropolitan Yevstratiy attended a national gathering for prayer and repentance at the Museum of the Bible in Washington.
The delegation, led by Metropolitan Epifaniy, held meetings with members of the U.S. Congress.
During discussions with Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Representatives Gus Bilirakis of Florida and Nicole Malliotakis of New York, they addressed the state of religious freedom in Ukraine, Russian persecution and crimes in the temporarily occupied territories, efforts to counter Kremlin propaganda and misinformation, and further steps toward securing victory for truth and a just peace in Ukraine.
The U.S. lawmakers expressed their strong support for the Ukrainian people and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in their righteous struggle against Russian aggression and disinformation.
Furthermore, within the U.S. Capitol, OCU representatives participated in a meeting with senior advisors to Speaker of the House Michael Johnson as part of the delegation from the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (AUCCRO).
In addition, at the U.S. State Department, Metropolitan Epifaniy and members of the OCU delegation met with Ambassador Yuri Kim, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia. In their conversation, Metropolitan Epifaniy expressed gratitude for the support the U.S. government and people continue to provide Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.
“During the Prayer Breakfast, we heard from President Donald Trump that he desires to be a peacemaker. This is a blessed and noble aspiration, and we pray that God grants wisdom, strength, and all necessary assistance in achieving this goal—the establishment of a just and lasting peace,” said His Beatitude.
Metropolitan Epifaniy also responded to questions regarding the current religious situation in Ukraine and the temporarily occupied territories, the position of the Moscow Patriarchate, and measures taken by the Ukrainian state to prevent religion from being exploited as a tool of war.
Additionally, Metropolitan Yevstratiy, as part of the AUCCRO delegation, participated in a meeting with senior officials from the U.S. State Department’s Office of International Religious Freedom, including Patrick Harvey and his team.
Source: pomisna
