Science and Innovation

Abstract. Ecclesiastical diplomacy of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I plays a significant role in the contemporary Orthodox world, particularly with regard to his involvement in granting autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. The 2018 decision by the Ecumenical Patriarch to recognize the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was not merely an issue of ecclesiastical unity—it also had political and geopolitical significance, carrying great importance for the Ukrainian state. This step provoked negative reactions from the Russian Patriarchate and sparked significant debates on ecclesiastical justice, national sovereignty, and the political landscape of Eastern Europe. Bartholomew I's diplomacy is characterized by his willingness to undertake initiatives based not solely on the requirements of canon law, but also on the global political reality and its dynamics. This article examines the main strategies of the Ecumenical Patriarch's ecclesiastical diplomacy, the facts and processes that accompanied the granting of autocephaly to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and highlights the historical context of Ukraine’s quest for autocephaly. It further analyzes the significance of autocephaly in relation to Ukraine’s national sovereignty and its religious and ecclesiastical independence. Additionally, the role of Bartholomew I in ecclesiastical politics and geopolitical stability is explored.