On January 26, after visiting Rome, the head of the OCU, Metropolitan Epifaniy kicked off his visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate (Istanbul, Turkey). At the airport of Istanbul, the head of the OCU was met by Metropolitan Maxim of Silivri, Father Jakov, the Grand Staunton of the Patriarchate, and Ukrainian diplomats.
This was reported by the press service of OCU.
In the evening, Metropolitan Epifaniy attended an event dedicated to International Holocaust Remembrance Day held at the Italian Cultural Institute in Istanbul. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, ambassadors of Italy, Austria and the Holy See, the chief rabbi of Turkey, and representatives of the country’s Jewish community also took part in the event.
During the event, a documentary was shown about the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Giovanni Roncalli, who later became Pope John XXIII, and his active participation in saving the Jews of Europe from Nazi persecution.
On January 27, Metropolitan Epifaniy will take part in the divine service in honor of the transfer of the relics of Saint John Chrysostom, which will be held in the Patriarchal Church of Saint George on Phanar, and will hold an official meeting with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
The archbishop Yevstratiy of Chernihiv is accompanying the head of the OCU.
Earlier, Metropolitan Epifaniy met with Cardinal Kurt Koch. He also met with Pope Francis.
