Stefanchuk: Epifaniy’s first mass at the Rada is a significant event

Ruslan Stefanchuk. Photo:interfax.com.ua

The Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk, said in an interview with the "Interfax" news agency that on 19 December, Epifaniy Dumenko held a "mass" at St. Volodymyr’s Church located in the parliament building.

"Last year that small chapel in the parliament, which has always been considered subordinate to the Moscow Patriarchate, was given over to pro-Ukrainian churches. On 19 December, Metropolitan Epifaniy held the first mass there. It may not have been a big event in general, but it was very significant for the Parliament. And as early as January 7, Epifaniy held a service in the Upper Lavra – and this too was done in a legal way," the Rada Speaker said.

As reported, in 2017, St. Volodymyr's Church, located in the building of the Verkhovna Rada, was closed on the grounds that "the symbol of the propaganda machine" had no place in the Rada. And in December 2022, it was handed over to the OCU, and Dumenko performed his "prayer service" in it.

Read also

German monastery expresses support for Sviatohirsk Lavra brotherhood

The monks of the Buchhagen monastery are praying for the slain Monk Varsonofiy and the brotherhood of the Sviatohirsk Lavra.

No word for three months on monk abducted from UOC monastery in Lyman

Reports about the abduction of Archimandrite Avakum from the Protection Monastery in Donetsk Region were submitted to the police, the State Bureau of Investigation and the prosecutor’s office.

MP: UOC feels comfortable abroad because there is no law on its ban

An MP acknowledged the powerlessness of the OCU abroad, unlike the UOC.

Georgian hegumen: Murder of Sviatohirsk monk is pain for all Christians

A Georgian clergyman expressed condolences to the brotherhood of the Sviatohirsk Monastery.

Romanian Primate thanks Phanar head for canonization of saints

The Primate of the Romanian Church noted the spiritual significance of the glorification of four monks of Romanian origin.

UOC Primate leads rite of glorification of Bl. Olga of Kyiv Florus Convent

The Holy Synod established the celebration of the memory of Saint Olga of Kyiv-Florus Convent on October 29.