UOC spokesman on Dumenko's statement: insolence, lies, and manipulation

Sergei (Epiphany) Dumenko at the meal. Photo: a screenshot from the Novoe Vremia YouTube channel.

"Manipulation, double standards, impudence and lies," was how Archpriest Nikolai Danilevich, deputy head of the UOC DECR, characterized the words of Sergei (Epiphany) Dumenko that the OCU "temporarily tolerates" the Ukrainian Orthodox Church on "its canonical territory." Such a statement was posted by the UOC spokesman on his Telegram page.

The priest said that Dumenko in his statement completely twisted the situation, because "Epiphany and Co. emerged as a schism (when they were still in the UOC-KP and the UAOC) and all these decades existed and exist illegally as a parallel jurisdiction on the canonical territory of the legitimate UOC."

The spokesman stressed that at present the same people already under the name "OCU" "with the help of criminal actions of Phanar" act "on the canonical territory of the legitimate UOC, which have existed here in Ukraine all these years, decades and centuries."

"Everything has been turned upside down," Fr. Nikolai said and summed up – “these words (of Sergei Dumenko – Ed.) are manipulation, double standards, impudence and lies. It is also typical raiding, only in the church sphere.

We shall remind you that on 6 January 2021, Sergei Dumenko said in an interview to the Priamyi channel that Ukraine is a canonical territory of the OCU and that "we tolerate the Ukrainian Orthodox Church only temporarily."

Read also

Serbian Church officially receives back land of 15th-century monastery

An agreement was signed in Belgrade transferring the territory of the ancient Vojlovica Monastery to the Banat Eparchy.

Pat Daniiel comments on conflict between Phanar bishop and community in Turkey

The Bulgarian Primate believes that the hierarch of the Constantinople Patriarchate should not have forced the Bulgarian community in Edirne to serve in Greek.

Patriarch Bartholomew congratulates Patriarch Shio on his election

In his message of congratulations, Patriarch Bartholomew called for joint witness before the world within the framework of “pan-Orthodox unity.”

Georgian priest in Germany: Patriarch Shio will preserve Ilia II’s legacy

Priest Elias Schlepegrell, who was present at the election in Tbilisi, said there is a clear disposition toward preserving Ilia II’s line and the unity of the Georgian Church.

Most Holy Theotokos Belt to arrive in UOC's Mukachevo Eparchy

From May 17 to June 1, 2026, the faithful of Zakarpattia will have the opportunity to venerate one of Christianity’s great holy relics.

Scholars unveil restored 13th-century icon from Rivne region

Researchers have completed the restoration of the Hodegetria icon and are preparing it for an exhibition in Lviv.