On October 17, 2024, Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv met with Ukraine’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha, at the Metropolitan’s House.
Also present at the meeting were Metropolitan Yevstratiy of Bila Tserkva, Deputy Head of the Department for External Church Relations of the OCU, Ambassador-at-Large for the Global Ukrainian Community Mariana Betsa, and Dmytro Tuzhansky, Head of the Patronage Service.
Metropolitan Epifaniy congratulated Andrii Sybiha on his appointment, wished him success in his new role, and invoked God’s blessing.
During their discussion, the parties addressed Ukraine’s international support, the OCU’s efforts in this direction, cooperation between the Church and the state in ensuring Ukraine’s spiritual independence, countering Russian attempts to destabilize the religious situation, the formation and recognition of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, support for internally displaced persons abroad, the return of spiritual and cultural values to Ukraine, prospects for dialogue between Orthodox communities in Ukraine, and other pressing matters.
“We are confident that, with God’s help, our defenders will achieve victory over the aggressor, and the Orthodox in Ukraine will unite around the Kyivan Throne. We appreciate the state’s chosen path to ensure Ukraine’s spiritual independence, but to fully achieve this goal, we must all work diligently and tirelessly. I am certain that the Lord, seeing the sincerity of our intentions and the steadfastness of our faith, will bless us with success,” said Metropolitan Epifaniy.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties exchanged gifts.
Source: pomisna
