Bartholomew I, the Ecumenical Patriarch is going to visit Ukraine in the near future. Metropolitan Epifaniy, Head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine said so during the liturgy timed to the first anniversary of Ukraine's united local church. Channel 5 reported that on December 16.
Epifaniy also announced that several churches will soon merge with the united local church in 2020.
The Ukrainian cleric expressed his gratitude to Bartholomew and everyone involved in the official recognition of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
"Exactly one year ago, December 15, a truly historical convention took place within the walls of our ancient shrine. The convention that united the three branches of Ukrainian orthodoxy in the united local Orthodox Church. Thanks to this unification, we managed to get the Tomos, the long-awaited document that forever shows that we're a true independent local Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the church of the Ukrainian people", he said.
