The Patriarchate of Alexandria, which holds second place after the Ecumenical Patriarchate in diptychs, has officially recognized the autocephalous Ukrainian Orthodox Church as Patriarch Theodore II remembered in prayer Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv and All Ukraine.

"The Patriarchate of Alexandria officially recognized the autocephalous Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Patriarch Theodore II remembered in prayer Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv,” BBC News Ukraine reports

According to the reputable Greek Orthodox media outlets Orthodoxia and Romfea, Patriarch Theodore remembered in prayer Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv and All Ukraine during the liturgy in Cairo.

This information has been also confirmed by the sources of BBC News Ukraine in the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The Patriarchate of Alexandria became the first among the old patriarchates of the Orthodox world (after Constantinople, which granted the tomos), who began the Eucharistic (church) communion with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and began to remember in prayer its Primate.

The recognition of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church by the Patriarchate of Alexandria will send a powerful signal to the entire Orthodox world, the BBC notes. Many other local churches earlier stated that they would decide on their attitude to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church after its recognition by the old patriarchates, such as the Patriarchate of Alexandria.

ol