“Each Orthodox people has the right for its own independent national Local Church,” -- Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem
On May 29, A. Parubiy, the Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine met with His Most Godly Beatitude Theophilos III Patriarch of the Holy City Jerusalem and all Palestine, Israel, Syria, beyond the Jordan River, Cana of Galilee, and Holy Zion, during his official visit to the State of Israel.
In the course of their conversation, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine spoke about church-state relations in Ukraine.
He also informed His Most Godly Beatitude of the joint appeal of the Parliament, the President and the episcopacy of Ukraine addressed to His All Holiness Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, to grant the Ukrainian Local Orthodox Church Tomos of Autocephaly.
"For us, Ukrainians, granting of autocephaly to our local Church is not only a matter of religion, it is a matter of national security and unity of the Ukrainian people," said Andriy Parubiy.
Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem said that every Orthodox nation has the right for its own independent national Local Church.
Andriy Parubiy called on Patriarch Theophilos III to support the initiative of His All Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew I.
During the exchange of gifts, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy presented Patriarch Theophilos III with a traditional painted Easter egg.
In response, the Patriarch wished the Ukrainian people a lot of stamina in its fight, stating: “Symbolically, an egg is signifier of rejuvenation. One needs to break it, so that a new life may emerge”.