On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, a delegation from the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO) visited Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at Ground Zero. Founded in 1996, UCCRO promotes ecumenical dialogue and interfaith cooperation in Ukraine and is composed of 15 major faith-based organizations.
The delegation was warmly welcomed by Bishop Nektarios of Diokleia, National Chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, representing His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America. Rev. Protopresbyter Andreas Vithoulkas offered a moving presentation on the Shrine’s journey from destruction to resurrection. This powerful testimony resonated deeply with the delegation, reflecting the ongoing trauma endured by the Ukrainian people since the Russian invasion of February 2022. Participants recognized Saint Nicholas not only as a sacred site of remembrance but also as a symbol of hope for Ukraine.
Following the visit, the delegation engaged in a more formal dialogue with Bishop Nektarios. They discussed the troubling weaponization of religion by Russia and emphasized the need for a united voice among Ukraine’s religious leaders to resist such manipulation and to uphold the spiritual and historical integrity of the Ukrainian nation.
The UCCRO delegation included:
* Pastor Igor Bandura, Deputy Head of the All-Ukrainian Union of Churches of Evangelical Christian Baptists
* Bishop Paul P. Chomnycky, Head of the Department of the Maritime Apostolate, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
* Metropolitan Yevstratiy of Bila Tserkva, Orthodox Church of Ukraine
* Bishop Vitalii Kryvytskyi, Roman Catholic Bishop of Kyiv-Zhytomyr
* Anatoliy Kozachok, Senior Pastor, Ukrainian Pentecostal Church
* Mr. Oleksandr Zaiets, Chairman of the Board, Institute for Religious Freedom
This important visit was made possible with the support of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
Photos: Orthodox Observer/Fr. Nicolas Kazarian
