Poroshenko thanks Patriarch Bartholomew for tomos and invites him to visit Ukraine

The president stated this in Istanbul on Saturday after the ceremony of signing the tomos of autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine by Patriarch Bartholomew, Ukrinform’s correspondent reported from Turkey.

"Without God's will, this event would have been impossible. I thank his All Holiness Bartholomew for faith, love for Ukraine, prayer for Ukraine and our people, courage to begin the process of granting the autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the completion of which we are celebrating these days," the president said.

Poroshenko also thanked the Holy Synod and the Patriarchal Church, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for the support of the president's appeal to the Ecumenical Patriarchate regarding the provision of autocephaly and the millions of Ukrainians who prayed for granting the autocephaly.

In addition, President Petro Poroshenko invited Patriarch Bartholomew to visit Ukraine.

"I want to say that we are waiting for you in Ukraine and we are looking forward to your visit," Poroshenko said.

As reported, on Saturday, January 5, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew signed the tomos of autocephaly for the united Orthodox Church of Ukraine. On Sunday, January 6, the Ukrainian delegation will take part in the tomos handover ceremony and a divine liturgy that will be jointly offered by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Metropolitan Epiphanius, and in a water blessing ceremony in the Golden Horn Bay.