Patriarch Bartholomew blesses Ukrainians

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has blessed all Ukrainians before leaving Ukraine, according to Archbishop Yevstratii Zoria, spokesperson for the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

"The patriarch said goodbye to Ukraine. 'Thank you and blessings to all!'," he wrote on Facebook.

As was reported earlier, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew during his visit to Ukraine met with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Verkhovna Rada Chairman Dmytro Razumkov.

Bartholomew also took part in Independence Day celebrations, delivered his speech at the All-Ukrainian Forum "Ukraine 30. Defenders," and honored the fallen defenders of Ukraine and Holodomor victims. In addition, the Ecumenical Patriarch held a liturgy at St. Sophia Cathedral together with Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv and All Ukraine, met with members of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, and -- in memory of his visit to Ukraine -- planted maple trees in Kyiv's Volodymyr Hill Park together with religious figures.