Newly elected head of OCU thanks U.S. for supporting “independent” Church
The meeting of the US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch and the head of the OCU Epiphany Dumenko
The newly elected "primate" thanked the United States of America for their efforts to protect religious freedom around the world, as well as for supporting the right of Orthodox Ukrainians to an "independent" Church "according to their own choice," reports the Greek edition “Romfea”.
In turn, the US Ambassador to Ukraine congratulated Epiphany on his election as head of the OCU.
“Tolerance, restraint and understanding are decisive factors that provide an opportunity for people with different religious beliefs to live and flourish peacefully together,” said Marie Yovanovitch.
According to the “Kiev Eparchy Gazette”, the meeting was held at the Vydubichi Monastery and provided for an exchange of views "on a number of issues related to the practical aspects of the emergence of the single Local Church."
As reported, the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held a telephone conversation with the head of the OCU, in which he stressed that the United States support the religious freedom and sovereignty of Ukraine and also urged to respect "the possibility of all Ukrainians to practice the religion of their choice."
Earlier, the Deputy Head of the State Department Press Service Robert Palladino said that the United States supports the new church structure created in Ukraine and the freedom of religion should not be obstructed from the outside.
Read also
Vatican Plans to Fully Switch to Its Own Solar Energy
The Vatican intends to build a large solar power plant near Rome that will fully cover the state's electricity needs.
Metropolitan Onuphrius congratulated Ukrainians on Independence Day
The Primate of the UOC called on citizens to harmony, unity and prayer.
The first monastic tonsure was performed at the Vinnytsia Elijah Men's Monastery
In Vinnytsia, the monastery's resident hierodeacon Sophronius received monastic tonsure with the name Lawrence, in honor of Venerable Lawrence of Chernigov.
A memorial service was held at the Svyatogorsk Lavra for the slain monk Varlsanofy
A memorial service (panikhida) was held at the Svyatogorsk Lavra for Monk Varsanofy, who was killed as a result of an attack on the brethren of the monastery.
Monk brutally murdered, two others wounded at Sviatohirsk Lavra
Unidentified assailants attacked members of the monastic brotherhood with a knife, leaving one dead and two seriously wounded.
Zelensky: We are fighting so Putin cannot dictate which Church must disappear
According to Zelensky, disagreements among representatives of Ukraine’s various faiths do not matter “when it comes to what is most important.”