Zelensky Attends Ecumenical Prayer Service at Sophia Cathedral
Clerics of the schismatic OCU were present, as were Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim leaders. No delegation from the UOC was present.
KYIV — On August 24, 2025, Ukraine's Independence Day, an ecumenical religious event took place at St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv with the participation of the Zelensky couple, according to the Office of the President (OP) website.
It is reported that prayers were offered by the Supreme Mufti of Ukraine Sheikh Ahmed Tamim, Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine Epifaniy Dumenko, Primate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Ordinary of the Kyiv-Zhytomyr Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine Vitaliy Kryvytsky, Senior Pastor of the Evangelical Christian Churches Anatoliy Kozachok, and Deputy Secretary General of the Ukrainian Bible Society Anatoliy Raychynets.
The event was also attended by representatives of Adventists, Evangelical churches, Lutherans, the Armenian Apostolic Church, Muslims, Jewish organizations, and the Reformed Church. The Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience, Viktor Yelensky, prayed with the participants as well.
The OP statement noted that "the holy fathers prayed for peace, freedom, and prosperity for Ukraine."
No representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) were present at the event.
Earlier, the Union of Orthodox Journalists reported that the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (VRTSiRO) supported the continued persecution of the UOC.
