Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew welcomed with brotherly love at the Phanar, on the eve of Theophany, January 5, 2026, Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine, accompanied by the Metropolitans Symeon of Vinnytsia and Bar, and Hilarion of Rivne and Ostroh, as well as other clergy and lay associates.
Present at their private meeting were the Metropolitan Elder Emmanuel of Chalcedon, and Third-in-Rank Deacon Epiphaniy Kamyanovich, who served as interpreter.
At noon, the Ecumenical Patriarch hosted a Lenten meal in honor of the distinguished guests at the Patriarchal table.
Earlier, immediately after his arrival, the Primate of the Church of Ukraine paid his respects to the Patriarchal Church and attended in prayer the Service of the Lesser Sanctification of Water, which was celebrated—according to the established order—by the Chief Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, Archimandrite Vasporyos, together with the Deputy Secretary, Deacon Oikoumenios.
Photo: Nikos Papachristou
