Poroshenko: “The granting of the Tomos of Autocephaly was a great blessing for the Ukrainian Faithful”

Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko expresses his gratitude to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for his unwavering support for Ukraine over the years, as well as for granting the Tomos of Autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, marking the 35th anniversary of the start of the Patriarch’s patriarchal ministry.

In particular, his message reads:

“Today marks the 35th anniversary of the commencement of the patriarchal ministry of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Throughout these years, he has borne the heavy cross of patriarchal ministry with wisdom, humility, and fatherly love for the entire fullness of the Orthodox Church. He has also remained steadfastly by the side of the Ukrainian people during these difficult times.

I gratefully recall that it was His All-Holiness who granted the Tomos of Autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. This decision, which we had awaited for centuries, restored historical justice for us and proved to be a great blessing for millions of Ukrainian faithful.

In these difficult times, all Ukrainian faithful feel the support of the Ecumenical Patriarch through his prayers. His All-Holiness condemns Russia’s…