Ecumenical Patriarch on Ukraine’s Independence Day: “You are not forgotten”

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew marked the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence on Monday, August 24, 2026, with an address centered on remembrance, solidarity with those suffering from the war, and hope for peace and a future return to Kyiv.

Speaking at the historic Church of Saint Nicholas in Cibali, Istanbul, which serves as the spiritual home of the city’s Ukrainian-speaking Orthodox community, the Ecumenical Patriarch said that Christian remembrance goes beyond recalling historical events and means carrying others “in our hearts” and before God in prayer.

“Today, we do not simply remember thirty-five years. We remember people,” Patriarch Bartholomew said, referring to generations of Ukrainians who preserved their faith and traditions, as well as those killed, displaced or separated from their families by the ongoing war.

“You are not forgotten”

The Ecumenical Patriarch made particular reference to prisoners of war and their families, addressing those enduring the uncertainty of waiting for their loved ones.

“To all of you, We wish to say something very simple: You are not forgotten. And those for whom you wait are not forgotten,” he stressed.

He assured…