Russia’s Orthodox Patriarch Kirill arrived in Istanbul on Friday to meet with Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, as top religious figures in the Orthodox community mull granting Ukraine an independent church.
While there is no equivalent to the pope among Eastern Orthodox Christians, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople is often dubbed the “first among equals” and wields some authority among patriarchs of other nations. In the coming months, Bartholomew is expected to decide on whether Ukraine can cut spiritual ties with Moscow.
