Ο Μακ. Μητροπολίτης Κιέβου και πάσης Ουκρανίας κ. Επιφάνιος συναντήθηκε σήμερα, 31η Ιανουαρίου 2020 με τον Αμερικανό Υπουργό Εξωτερικών Michael R. Pompeo κατά την επίσκεψή του στο Κίεβο.. Η συνάντηση πραγματοποιήθηκε στους χώρους της Μονής του Αγίου Μιχαήλ Κιέβου, όπου και το διοικητικό κέντρο της Αυτοκέφαλης Εκκλησίας της Ουκρανίας.
Αρχικά έγινε και από τους δύο κατάθεση λουλουδιών στο μνημείο Τοίχου, που υπάρχει έξω από τη Μονή, τιμώντας αμφότεροι τους Πεσόντες της Ουκρανίας για την ανεξαρτησία της χώρας.
Ακολούθως ο Προκαθήμενος κ. Επιφάνιος εξήγησε στον υψηλό φιλοξενούμενο τα της ιδρύσεως της νεοπαγούς Εκκλησίας, πώς αλληλεπιδρά στην κοινωνία και το κράτος, καθώς επίσης και για το άνοιγμά της σε διεθνείς σχέσεις.
His Beatitude Metropolitan Epiphaniy, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, met with the US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo
31 Січня 2020
Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Epiphaniy met with the US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo during his visit in Kyiv on January 31, 2020. The meeting was held at the site of St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery, which is the administrative center of the OCU. It was proceeded by a joint ceremony of laying flowers at the Memory Wall, honoring the memory of the fallen defenders of Ukraine.
The Primate told the guest about the establishment of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, interaction with society and the state, as well as the extension of the international relations of the OCU.
Particular attention was paid to the challenges for the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, specifically erin the territories temporarily occupied by Russia in the Donbas and the Crimea. Russia, as de facto responsible for the situation in its occupied territories, must adhere to international standards on freedom of religion and creed, in particular to stop the persecution and systematic restriction of the rights of the clergy and communities of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
The Primate expressed his gratitude to the American side for the firm and reliable support of Ukraine both in the context of counteracting external challenges that our country continues to encounter, as well as on the path of state formation and democratic reforms.
Metropolitan Epiphaniy called for continuous support and enhanced sanctioning of Russia until complete termination of human rights abuses in the occupied territories, release of them from occupation and restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, its sovereignty within internationally recognized borders.
Other topics were discussed and further support for bilateral contacts was agreed, especially in the area of protection of freedom of conscience and religion.
In the meeting the OCU was also represented by the Metropolitan of Lviv Dymytriy (Rudyuk), Head of Donators Board of the Metropolitan’s Foundation of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine – Andriy Matsola, Legal Advisors of His Beatitude – Andriy Romanchuk and Maryan Martynyuk. The USA delegation included: Charge d`Affaires a.i. Kristina Kvien, Acting Assistant Secretary Phillip Reeker, Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus and Senior Advisor Mary Kissel.
After the meeting, the Secretary of State, accompanied by Metropolitan Epiphaniy, visited St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Cathedral.
It should be reminded that Metropolitan Epiphaniy and Secretary of State Pompeo met in Washington, DC, last October during the official visit of His Beatitude to the United States.
Press service of the Kyiv Metropolitanate of the UOC (OCU)
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