Poroshenko thanks Erdoğan over independence process of Ukraine’s Orthodox church

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko expressed his appreciation to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Sunday at a press conference in Kiev for not intervening in the Ecumenical Greek Patriarchate in Istanbul during the Ukrainian Church independence process from the Russian Orthodox Church.

“As the president of Ukraine, I appreciate Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan not intervening in this process. He is personally a great friend of mine, as well as Ukraine.”

His remarks came after reporters’ questions on whether or not Ukraine received support from Turkish authorities as the Ecumenical Greek Patriarchate is located in Turkish soil during the Kiev Patriarchate’s independence process.

Poroshenko also said he had a long phone conversation with Istanbul-based Ecumenical Greek Orthodox Patriarch Dimitri Bartholomew before the press conference.

The Ukrainian church has been under the Russian Orthodox Church for centuries.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Istanbul – traditionally “first among equals” in the Orthodox world – had approved the autocephalous request of Kiev Patriarchate on Oct. 11, and decreed an end to 332 years of Russian authority over Ukraine’s religious affairs.

On Oct. 15, the Russian church cut ties with the Fener Greek Patriarchate, and described the Patriarchate's decision on Ukrainian autocephaly as “dissent.”