The Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada gave His Holiness a bunch of white roses and a memorable gift on behalf of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
In response to the congratulations, His Holiness said: "The Church has always been with the people. The Church was not accidentally presence with the people on Maidan. When it was necessary we called up the people for help."
Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andrii Parubii told His Holiness, the Patriarch of Kyiv and All Rus that on May 20, the meeting of the National Security and Defense Council discussed the issue of immediate introduction and legalization of the institution of chaplains within the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Patriarch Filaret congratulated Andrii Parubii on his election as the Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada and blessed him as representative of the Ukrainian people in that office.
The Parties discussed sociopolitical situation in the state, the situation in the antiterrorist operation zone, as well as the important issues of church-state relations legislating.
His Holiness, the Patriarch of Kyiv and All Rus - Ukraine Filaret gave Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andrii Parubii memorable publication on the Kyiv Patriarchate.
Other participants in the meeting were: press secretary of the Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada Andrii Kovaliov and public man Heorhii Dovhanchyn.