Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the Council of Churches
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with members of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations on the first day after Easter.
This was reported by the Office of the President.
During the meeting, the head of state emphasized the importance of unity among religious organizations and their role in supporting Ukrainians during the war.
“I believe it is right that we have such a Council of Churches, that we meet, support all believers, and that we stand together. This is especially important during wartime. I want to thank you for the fact that our Council of Churches, just like every person in our country, is working for victory, supporting our soldiers, civilians—all the people of Ukraine who need your support, your prayers, your words, and your messages,” Zelenskyy noted.
Viktor Yelensky, Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience, noted that this year the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its work.
During the meeting, representatives of various denominations emphasized the importance of spiritual support for society, the development of chaplaincy, and social initiatives, particularly assistance to military personnel and civilians.
The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epifaniy, thanked the state for its cooperation and emphasized the importance of continuing to seek solutions for religious communities.
The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Sviatoslav Shevchuk, emphasized the international advocacy for Ukraine through religious communities abroad, noting that every parish is effectively “the voice of Ukraine” in the world.
Representatives of other denominations also emphasized the need to develop military chaplaincy, support families, and foster interfaith unity in assisting the defenders.
Zelenskyy concluded that all issues raised during the meeting would be addressed by the relevant government agencies.
“It is important to continue in this spirit of unity. The requests are clear, and we will review everything. Anything that can strengthen support for our people and our military—I am in favor of moving forward,” the president noted.
As a reminder, since the start of the large-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian occupiers have already killed 50 clergy members. The enemy army has also destroyed approximately 700 churches.
