Bartholomew

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, a central figure in Orthodox Christianity, has been instrumental in shaping the religious landscape in Ukraine. Over recent years, his engagement with Ukrainian political and religious leaders has underscored the push for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church's autocephaly. This move, celebrated by many in Ukraine, seeks to affirm the church's independence from Russian spiritual authority. Key discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and various communiqués, notably around the Global Peace Summit, highlight the Patriarch's role in advocating for Ukraine's sovereignty in both political and spiritual realms. His supportive messages during festive periods, like Christmas, further reinforce the resonance of his spiritual leadership amidst Ukraine's ongoing struggles for national and ecclesiastical self-determination.