UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS THE PATRIARCHATE
On Wednesday, the 9th/22nd of October 2014, the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Pavlo Klikmkin, accompanied by the Ukrainian ambassador to Tel Aviv and a group of his associates, visited the Patriarchate.
His Excellency the Minister and his retinue were warmly received by H.B. Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, and Hagiotaphite Fathers. An interesting discussion took place during the meeting, on the principles and values of Orthodoxy and how difficult it is today to safeguard them in the face of globalization and the European Union’s terms and conditions. Reference was also made to the fact that the Church does not interfere in political affairs.
On the occasion of the meeting, His Beatitude conferred on Mr Klimkin the medal of the Great Crusader of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher, in recognition of his contribution to the “synallelia”, namely symphony, between the Church and the State.
Touched, the Honourable Mr Klimkin thanked His Beatitude and pledged to dedicate all his powers towards serving his country and the Orthodox Church in the struggle for man’s salvation. He then went on to venerate at the Holy Sepulcher, Calvary and the Church of the Resurrection.
From the Secretariat-General