This post was originally published on this site
In addition, Prime Minister of Ukraine thanked for the decision and the blessing of the Ecumenical Patriarch to hold religious services in the church of St. Nicholas for the Ukrainian Orthodox community of Istanbul.
In turn, the Ecumenical Patriarch said: “We greet the entire beloved Ukrainian nation from the headquarters of the Ecumenical Patriarchate not as foreigners but as a beloved spiritual children of the Mother Church. Spiritual relations that unite the Mother church with Ukrainians never disappeared. We are close to you, especially when it is hard, we accompany you with our prayers and blessings… We send our blessing, love and concern for every Ukrainian without exceptions.”
During his official visit to the Patriarchate, the Prime Minister was accompanied by Mr. Volodymyr Kistion, Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Taras Kutovoy, Minister of Agriculture, Ms, Liliya Hrynevych, Minister of Education, and Mr. Andrii Sybiha, the country’s Ambassador in Ankara, and Mr. Maksym Vdovychenko, acting Consul General of Ukraine in Istanbul, Mr. Serhii Popyk and Mr. Myroslav Kosheliuk, advisers to Prime Minister, Mr. Yurii Bodenchuk, Special Secretary of the Department, Mr. Danylo Bilak and Mr. Stanislav Yezhov, interpreter.
In conclusion of his formal visit, the Ukrainian Prime Minister also visited the Patriarchal Church of St. George.
Source: http://www.kmu.gov.ua
