Dumenko calls kissing a priest's hand a "slavish Russian tradition"
Epiphanius Dimitriou is slavishly kissing the hand of Epiphanius Dumenko. Photo: the OCU website
Serhiy Dumenko in an interview with TSN said that the OCU refused to kiss the hand of the clergyman.
Answering the journalist's question if he was outraged that he was not kissed on the hand, Dumenko replied that this is a Russian slave tradition, and the OCU will not have it.
"It is more, you see, a tradition, and a Russian tradition in which the believer as a subordinate must bow to the master and kiss his hand. This is a certain domination over believers, (demonstration - Ed.) that believers are submissive slaves. And we are moving away from this tradition, because we are, according to Christ, friends," said Dumenko.
As reported, OCU "priests" unable to cross themselves correctly were disgraced at the raided UOC church in Ladyzhyn.
Read also
"Parishioners" brought to Lavra by buses on Epifaniy's name day, media
People from different regions were brought in an organized manner to the "service" of the head of the OCU at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
Yermak consults fortune teller before important appointments, prosecutor says
Private correspondence with a fortune teller was found with the former head of the President's Office, in which he coordinated personnel decisions.
SBU searches home of Metropolitan Longin’s daughter
Law enforcement officers detained the hierarch's son-in-law, who has many children, and refused to allow a lawyer to participate in investigative actions at the family's private home.
Vienna hosts regional congress of Ukrainian Orthodox youth
Youth from seven European countries discussed the spiritual foundations of democracy and prayed for peace in Ukraine before a particle of the Life-Giving Cross.
Persecuted UOC community in Zadubrivka celebrates patronal feast
The faithful celebrated the Liturgy in a house church and held a water-blessing service at the site where a new church in honor of Venerable Amphilochius of Pochaiv is being built.
Thousands of faithful gather at Pochaiv Lavra for feast of St Amphilochius
The pilgrimage to the relics of Venerable Amphilochius of Pochaiv on his feast day is a long-standing tradition of the UOC.