OCU Metropolitans Simeon and Alexander (Drabinko) arrive for Tomos

Ukrainian delegation preparing to receive the Tomos on January 6

On January 6, 2019, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople will grant the Tomos on autocephaly to the Ukrainian delegation, which will include Metropolitans Simeon (Shostatsky) and Alexander (Drabinko) banned from ministry by the Holy Synod of the UOC, reports the online edition of “Na Parise”.

The Tomos will be received at a joint Divine service, which will be attended by "Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine" Epiphany Dumenko, 2 "bishops" of the UOC-KP, a "bishop" of the UAOC, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andrei Parubiy and other members of the Ukrainian delegation, as reported by the Ukrainian journalist Olesia Rudnitskaya.

The journalist added that Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople has the right to perform public services only on major holidays, and that is why the Tomos bestowal was scheduled for January 6.

The leader of the Crimean Tatars Mustafa Dzhemilev said that he also intended to attend the granting of the document.

Read also

Priests and laity of Rivne Eparchy donate blood for children with cancer

In Rivne, the UOC clergy and laity have donated blood for children undergoing treatment for cancer.

Kyiv seminary students meet with People’s Artist Larisa Kadochnikova

Students of Kyiv’s theological schools spoke with the legend of Ukrainian cinema, who shared her memories of filming "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors".

Bancheny Monastery reports provocation

The UOC monastery in Bancheny has reported a provocation by unidentified individuals.

Romanian Church to hold joint prayer for peace in Ukraine

On the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Ukraine, special prayers for an end to the hostility will be offered in all churches of the Romanian Patriarchate, both in the country and abroad.

Armenian bishops call on authorities to stop Church persecution

At a meeting in Austria, hierarchs of the Armenian Apostolic Church reaffirmed their faithfulness to Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians and called on the authorities to stop the persecution of the clergy.

Italian media: Ukrainian authorities persecute the country’s largest confession

The Italian outlet L’Identità reported on mass searches, the arrests of clergy, and the ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which it describes as the largest Church in Ukraine.