Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine visited the Holy Monasteries of Xenophontos, Simonopetra, and Stavronikita during his first official pilgrimage to Mount Athos as Primate of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
On Saturday afternoon, Metropolitan Epifaniy arrived at the Monastery of Stavronikita, where he was warmly welcomed by the Brotherhood. The Abbot was absent, as he was on a previously scheduled visit to Rhodes.
A doxology was celebrated in honor of Metropolitan Epifaniy, during which he and members of the Brotherhood exchanged heartfelt greetings. Following the service, Metropolitan Epifaniy presented the Monastery with liturgical vestments and service books in Ukrainian, while the monks of Stavronikita offered gifts in return.
Later, the Metropolitan of Kyiv visited Simonopetra Monastery, where he and his delegation were warmly received by Abbot Elisha and the Brotherhood. Also present were Metropolitan Apostolos of Miletus and the Civil Administrator of Mount Athos, Alkiviadis Stefanis.
In his address, Abbot Elisha expressed the brotherhood’s deep love and unwavering support for the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine, especially amid the ongoing war. As a token of goodwill, the Brotherhood offered icons and books to Metropolitan Epifaniy and his entourage.
Metropolitan Epifaniy, who maintains a personal acquaintance with Abbot Elisha, remarked that the long-held hopes for resolving previous ecclesiastical challenges are now taking shape. He expressed his faith that, with God’s help, the prayers for Ukraine’s victory will be fulfilled.
After the visit, the Ukrainian delegation traveled by sea to Xenophontos Monastery, where they were warmly received on the pier by Abbot Alexios.
In his welcoming address, Abbot Alexios extended heartfelt greetings to the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the accompanying pilgrims, conveying his deep love, compassion, and concern for the Church and people of Ukraine amid the suffering caused by Russian military aggression.
Metropolitan Epifaniy expressed his profound gratitude to Abbot Alexios for his warm words and for the unwavering support that both he and the brotherhood of Xenophontos Monastery have shown toward Ukraine.
“Here, Father Loukas composed the Tomos of Autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine — an event that forever inscribed Xenophontos Monastery in the history of the sacred bonds between our Church, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and Mount Athos,” Metropolitan Epifaniy noted.
