Patriarch Bartholomew confirms his visit to Ukraine in 2021

In 2021, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople will visit Ukraine on the occasion of its Independence Day. He stated this in his congratulatory message to the head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine Epiphanius on the anniversary of his election as head of the OCU.

Evstratii Zoria, Deputy Head of the External Church Relations Department of the OCU, published the translation of the greeting on Facebook.

"We are anticipating the joy of meeting Your Beatitude in 2021 in Kyiv during our visit to Ukraine on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of proclaiming its independence at the kind invitation of His Excellency President Volodymyr Zelenskyi," the letter reads.

He congratulated the head of the OCU "on the significant church work done in such a short time, on the excellent management of church affairs, on cooperation with the authorities for the benefit of all the Ukrainian people, and on initiatives and actions during a dangerous pandemic."

"Ukrainian autocephaly is a fait accompli that cannot be undone," Bartholomew said.

"We offer our prayers to the glorious Lord to strengthen the service of the Mother Church. We ask you to convey the wishes of our humility to the Ukrainian people of God and all on Fanar who guard the communication of Fathers, day and night," the patriarch's letter reads.