"But the time will come": Dumenko "temporarily tolerates" UOC in Ukraine

Sergey Dumenko (left). Photo: a screenshot of the YouTube channel "Priamyi"

The head of the OCU, Sergey (Epiphany) Dumenko, said in his interview with "Priamyi" that his structure only "for the time being tolerates" the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church.  

According to Sergey Dumenko, "Ukraine is the canonical territory of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine". He is sure that the UOC "is here temporarily", and the Phanar has already determined the status of the UOC.

Dumenko expressed the hope that Patriarch Bartholomew will visit Ukraine in 2021 and meet with representatives of the OCU. Dumenko said that the visit of the head of the Phanar will take place "both at the state and the church level". And this visit, according to Dumenko, testifies that “Ukraine is the canonical territory of the OCU because, at the invitation of the President, the Ecumenical Patriarch arrives at the territory of the recognized OCU."

Sergey Dumenko also commented on the attitude towards the UOC (which he calls the Russian Orthodox Church).

“Their status has already been determined by the Ecumenical Patriarch. We tolerate them until a certain time, but the time will come when they join the recognized autocephalous Orthodox Church, and we will make up the already unified recognized Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” Dumenko believes.

As reported earlier, Patriarch Bartholomew "temporarily tolerates" the bishops of the UOC in Ukraine.

Read also

Hearing in Metropolitan Theodosiy’s сase postponed after “victim” no-show

A scheduled hearing at the Kyiv-Sviatoshyn Court in the case against the ruling bishop of the Cherkasy Eparchy was postponed after OCU chaplain Nazariy Zasansky failed to appear.

Ukraine’s Chief Rabbi: The time has come to build the Third Temple

The spiritual leader of Ukraine’s Jewish community commented on Tucker Carlson’s claims about the religious motives behind the war in the Middle East.

US bars removal of children from parents who reject gender transition

U.S. authorities have affirmed the right of families to raise their children in accordance with their religious convictions and biblical understanding of sex.

DESS draws parallels between liquidation of UGCC and present day

An event in Kyiv marked the 80th anniversary of the Lviv Council, at which a decision was taken to dissolve the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

Bulgarian Church warns of sectarian threat after mass suicide

The Lovech Eparchy of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church has issued a warning following the tragedy of a mass suicide involving sect members near the Petrohan Pass.

UN reports violations of rights of believers and communities in Ukraine

A UN document points to pressure on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, attempts to ban it through the courts, and cases of forcible church seizures.