Representation of Ecumenical Patriarchate in Ukraine to perform functions of embassy

Rostyslav Pavlenko, the adviser to the President of Ukraine, director of the National Institute for Strategic Studies, made such a statement at a briefing, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"It is the work of a representative office, i.e., it is what we expect from an embassy: maintaining bilateral contacts, primarily with the independent Ukrainian church; where the government support is required in accordance with Ukrainian legislation - with the Ukrainian state and Ecumenical Orthodoxy; the relations between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and other Orthodox churches," Pavlenko said, answering the question about the mission of the permanent representation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Ukraine.

According to him, the representative offices of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of different levels exist in many countries that have independent Orthodox churches.

November 3, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew signed an agreement on cooperation and collaboration between Ukraine and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

October 18, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine passed the law on the transfer of the St. Andrew's Church in Kyiv to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople for perpetual free of charge usage.

October 11, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate made the decision to grant a tomos of autocephaly to the Orthodox Church in Ukraine.

ol