Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-07-25

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Ecumenical Patriarch in Kiev

[01] Ecumenical Patriarch in Kiev

The Patriarch was in the country at the invitation of Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko to take part in celebrations marking the 1020th anniversary of the baptism of Kiev Russians, which marked the start of the Slavic world's conversion to Christianity.

Giant posters of the Ecumenical Patriarch and President Yushchenko, alongside emblems of the great anniversary, decorated the lengthy route from the airport to the centre of the city and the places that the Patriarch was scheduled to visit. People stood all along the route to see the Patriarch on his first-ever visit to the Ukraine, waving the blue and yellow flags of the Ukraine and the white flags of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Fanar.

The Patriarch was also flanked by a motorcade from the airport to the historic Lavra of the Caves (Pechersk Lavra) monastery, where there was an official ecclesiastical welcome organised by Kiev Metropolitan Vladimir.

"We are come as angels of peace and reconciliation," Bartholomew said in statements at the monastery, expressing hope that his visit will contribute to reuniting the divided Orthodox of the Ukraine into a single, unified Church. The same wish was echoed by Metropolitan Vladimir, who had organised an impressive welcome with hundreds of monks, clerics and laiety in the monastery.

On his arrival at the airport, the Ecumenical Patriarch had been met by President Yushchenko, the chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament Arseniy Yatsenyuk and representatives of the country's political, social and academic leadership.

There was also an honour guard salute, while Yushchenko stressed the importance of the Patriarch's visit.

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