Kyiv: Meeting of the delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate with the ‘Sofia Brotherhood’
In recent years in Ukraine, the public organisation named the “Sofia Brotherhood” has been quite active. It is a non-for-profit public organisation – a voluntary association for the exercise and protection of rights and freedoms, the satisfaction of the public, especially scientific, cultural, creative, social, spiritual and other interests of its members. The main objective of the Brotherhood is to complete the promotion of the Orthodox Dialogue to achieve the unity of Ukrainian Orthodoxy, to combine efforts and to support the initiatives of Orthodox Christians with the aim of developing them.
On 28 August 2024, a long-awaited and important event took place for the Brotherhood. Responding to its initiative, the members of the Ecumenical Patriarchate delegation who are currently visiting Kyiv, which consists of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Winnipeng (from Canada), His Eminence Metropolitan Job of Pisidia, and the Patriarchal Deacon Epiphanios Kamianovic, met with representatives of the Brotherhood, at the Church of the Stavropegion of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, namely the Museum Church of Saint Andrew the Apostle.
The event was also attended by the Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Ukraine, His Grace Bishop Michael (Anisenko) of Komana.
Clergy and laymen from different jurisdictions (the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate from the Diaspora) had the opportunity to share their pain, emphasise the problems, hopes and achievements of the Ukrainian faithful. The Sofia Brotherhood, which has been involved in a procedural dialogue since 2022, is deeply concerned about the open conflict between the Orthodox in Ukraine. At the same time, the current liturgical life and the constant search for unity during this time have indicated some ways of leaving the existing crisis, both at a personal and institutional level, which allowed for these to be discussed in a friendly conversation.
Representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate responded keenly to the brothers’ speeches, commenting on almost every line. Metropolitan Hilarion highlighted the important role of the grassroots movements of the believers in the reconciliation of jurisdictions and called on the Brotherhood to continue their work, promising to convey to His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew the constructive ideas expressed in the conversation. Metropolitan Job, in turn, drew attention to the need to make balanced decisions and the unacceptable radical steps in intra-ecclesiastical relationships.
It is worth noting that both bishops are actively involved in the spiritual life of Ukraine and contribute to the development of its theology, particularly participating in the implementation of leading theological editions. Generally, despite the high level of representation, the discussion was amazingly comfortable, warm and relaxed. Probably, because all participants are united by a concern – the search for the best ways to overcome the procedural divisions among the Orthodox Ukrainians.
Source: fosfanariou.gr / Father Panagiotis Kapodistrias, Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne
