” ” ” “The ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, arrived this morning at Boryspil airport, in Kiev, on the invitation of the Ukrainian president Victor Yushchenko to attend the celebrations for the 1020th anniversary of the Christianisation of Kiev. The president, who received him at the airport according to a presidential release , thanked Patriarch Bartholomew for the efforts he is making to "spread spiritual values in the world". On his part, Patriarch Bartholomew thanked Yushchenko for his invitation to attend the celebrations. Then, the first words uttered by Bartholomew I on Ukrainian soil spoke of the unity of Christians in a land in which the two Orthodox churches of the country, one led by Patriarch Filaret of Kiev, the other related to the Patriarchate of Moscow, have some problems living together. "We are here said Bartholomew I, who is at the head of a delegation to pray for the union of all the Christians of Ukraine. We are here as angels of peace who long for unity". Two days ago, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is under the same jurisdiction as the Patriarchate of Moscow, had convened a Holy Synod for a special session which was also attended by the metropolitan bishop Kirill of Smolensk. (continued)
