From: New Voice of Ukraine 🇺🇦
After the Ukrainian parliament passed a ban on the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone conversation with the Archbishop of Constantinople, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
Zelenskyy’s office reported the conversation in a Telegram post on Aug. 21.
“I thanked His Holiness for his prayers for Ukraine and his unwavering support for our people,” the president’s message said.
During the conversation, Zelenskyy emphasized that the recently passed bill does not infringe on the rights of Orthodox worshippers in the country, only seeking to curtail the influence of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Orthodox Church.
“I stressed the significance of the new spiritual independence law, supported by the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, and highlighted that an independent nation must also be spiritually independent,” said Zelenskyy.
The president assured the archbishop that Ukraine seeks to strengthen the Orthodox faith and promote open dialogue between the various churches in the country.
Voice of Ukraine 