OCU bans UOC KP "bishop" and "archimandrite" expecting their repentance

Head of the OCU Epiphany Dumenko. Photo: 5 Channel

On June 22, 2019, Epiphany Dumenko, the head of the OCU, banned “Archimandrite”Andrei Marutsak from ministry. The corresponding decree was published on the OCU Facebook page.

The decree states that for the “direct participation in activities aimed at dividing the Church, an attempt to seize the leadership of the monastery — the monk of the Stavropegy monastery Archimandrite Andrei Marutsak should be banned from priesthood for three months ... calling him to full and true repentance”.

In addition, two “clerics” of the Kharkov “eparchy” of the OCU – Elijah Zelensky and the "priest" Vasily Lesik – were also banned from priesthood “for actions aimed at dividing the Church”. 

The texts of the decrees on their ban were published on the Facebook page of the head of the Kharkov and Bogodukhov "eparchy" of the OCU "Bishop" Mitrofan.

It is worth noting that on June 22, 2019, Elijah Zelensky was “ordained” by the head of the UOC KP Filaret to the “bishop” of Kharkov and Bogodukhov.

It is also noteworthy that if Elijah of Zelensky was simply banned from "ministry", then Vasily Lesik was also banned from performing even "sacraments and occasional services".

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the head of the UOC KP Filaret, together with Joasaph Shibaev “ordained” the first of the two candidates for “bishops” elected by the “Local Council” of the UOC KP.

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