Ukrainian Greek Catholic Patriarch visits Phanar

(RISU) - On 19 April, the Head of the Ukrainian-Greek Catholic Church, Patriarch Sviatoslav (Shevchuk) and Head of the Department of Foreign Relations of UGCC, Bishop Borys Gudziak set off for a pilgrimage to Constantinople. The trip is organized in the context of the celebration of the 1025th anniversary of Baptism of Rus-Ukraine and will end on 22 April.

During the pilgrimage, the delegation of UGCC will meet with Patriarch Bartholomew I. According to Patriarch Sviatoslav, “it is a courtesy visit to the Mother Church of the Christians of the Kyivan Tradition.”

The delegation will also visit the Cathedral of the Holy Sophia, the Greek-Catholic Church of the Holy Trinity and other shrines. So reported the Information Department of UGCC.

"Before the meeting Patriarch Sviatoslav and Bishop Borys visited the Cathedral of St. George at the Phanar and venerated the relics of the holy hierarchs Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom. After the meeting, there was a quick stop to the Church of the Theotokos of Blachernae, particularly significant today on the Saturday of the Akathist, where Patriarch Sviatoslav led the singing of the first Kontakion of the Akathist Hymn" - Daniel Galadza informs.