Romfea publishes letter of gratitude from Lithuanian Premier to Phanar head

Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonīte and Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. Photo: romfea.gr

On February 26, 2024, Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrida Šimonytė sent a letter to Patriarch Bartholomew, officially informing him of the registration of the Exarchate of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the country and expressing gratitude to the head of the Phanar for cooperation. The politician's letter was published by the Greek portal Romfea on March 20, 2024.

"On February 7, 2024, the Exarchate of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Lithuania was officially recognized as a traditional religious organization and included in the list of legal entities of Lithuania," the Prime Minister wrote.

She informed the recipient that from now on, the exarchate, like all traditional religious communities in Lithuania, would receive financial support.

Šimonytė recalled that "less than a year and a half has passed since the initiative was put forward to establish relations between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the government of Lithuania."

"We started this course without experience, with limited knowledge, but with a basic belief that good should not only, but also can overcome evil," shared the politician.

"The Mother Orthodox Church has returned to Lithuania after more than three centuries of unjust exile," the Prime Minister believes.

In her opinion, "for the first time, our Ukrainian Orthodox brothers and sisters have been given the opportunity to participate in the Divine Liturgy and freely pray for the victory of Ukraine over Russian aggression and for a just peace for all defenders of Ukraine."

"I will never be able to fully express my gratitude, both personally and as Prime Minister of Lithuania, for the dedication of His Holiness and this Holy Synod, as well as all the members of the Ecumenical Patriarchate who made all this possible in such a short period of time," she concluded.

Recall that in March 2023, Patriarch Bartholomew made an official visit to Lithuania, where he announced the intention of the Phanar to establish an exarchate of the Ecumenical Patriarchate there. In February, the authorities of Lithuania registered the exarchate in the country.

Earlier, the UOJ referred to the LOC source that there is a community for Ukrainian refugees led by a UOC priest from Kharkiv in Lithuania.

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