ISTANBUL — During a Mass held in Istanbul on Sunday, a prominent leader in Eastern Orthodox Christianity emphasized that the sovereignty of Ukraine is not a topic for discussion or negotiation, especially under the pretense of diplomatic talks. This statement came on the eve of the third anniversary of Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, recognized as the “first among equals” within Eastern Orthodoxy, asserted that any forthcoming peace negotiations must include Ukraine as an equal party. He acknowledged the relentless efforts of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his pursuit to defend the nation’s independence.
In Ukraine, a majority of the population identifies as Orthodox Christians, although the religious landscape is divided between a church that operates independently from Moscow, based in Kyiv, and one that is aligned with Russian ecclesiastical authority. Bartholomew has consistently expressed his support for Ukraine throughout the conflict, notably granting the Orthodox Church of Ukraine independence from Moscow in 2019—a decision that led to a rupture in relations with the Russian Patriarch Kirill and the Russian Orthodox Church.
During his sermon, Bartholomew remarked that “no force can extinguish the spirit of the people who refuse to be broken,” highlighting the resilience of those affected by the war. This Mass was attended by family and friends of Ukrainian soldiers who are currently missing or believed to be prisoners of war in Russia. The event moved many attendees to tears, including Tetiana Tantsiura, whose husband, Oleg Naradko, a member of Ukraine’s 115th Mechanized Brigade, has been unaccounted for since July 2022. “It’s hard to talk about,” she expressed. “He disappeared in July 2022, and up until now, I have no news. My only hope is that he is alive and will return to Ukraine.”
Despite President Vladimir Putin’s attempts to frame the invasion of Ukraine as a defense of the Moscow-aligned Orthodox Church, leaders from both Ukrainian Orthodox factions, as well as the country’s significant Catholic community, have condemned the conflict vehemently. In a show of gratitude, Ukraine’s consul general to Istanbul, Nedilskyi Roman, expressed appreciation to the patriarch for his “personal and spiritual” support towards Ukraine. He stated, “Your prayers have fortified our resolve to confront the insidious adversary for three years. Thank you for your personal and spiritual backing to the millions of Ukrainians around the world who were compelled to leave their homes to protect their children’s lives.”
