Bartholomew's visit reopens Ukraine-Russia row
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate Bartholomew, based in Istanbul's Fener district, arrived in Ukraine on Friday for three days of festivities, deepening a longstanding dispute with Russia over the ex-Soviet state's right to its own independent church.
Top clerics from Orthodox countries converged on
However the celebrations in the region have been overshadowed by the dispute between Kyiv and
After mainly Orthodox Ukraine won independence from Soviet rule in 1991, a separate church was formed. But it remains unrecognized by the worldwide Orthodox Church, which sees the Ukrainian branch of the Russian Orthodox Church as its only representative in the country.
Before Bartholomew's arrival, Russian President Vlademir Putin asked Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan to be negotiator and convince him for not attending the celebrations, Turkish media reported.
According to the reports,
Erdogan had told Zubkov he would try to convince Bartholomew, adding it had been seen hard to succeed it, the reports also said.Â
Pro-Western Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, an ardent Orthodox believer, has tried to boost the event's profile by focusing on the visit by Bartholomew.
Bartholomew was met by Yushchenko, who sees creation of an independent church as part of
Posters of the president alongside Bartholomew dotted Kyiv streets. Tens of thousands of guests holds a Saturday prayer meeting near the 11th century St Sofia Cathedral and a Sunday service by the
Photo: AP
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