Dumenko: UOC communities belong to the OCU, although they do not want it
Sergei (Epiphany) Dumenko, Patriarch Bartholomew and Petro Poroshenko. Photo: gov.ua
In an interview with Radio Svoboda, the head of the OCU, Sergei (Epiphany) Dumenko, stated that absolutely all communities in Ukraine, including those in the UOC, belong to the OCU.
Those who "do not recognize this reality," according to Dumenko, create a "certain canonical collapse." The fact that the believers of the UOC "temporarily want to belong to the ROC (as Dumenko calls the UOC – Ed.)" is "canonically wrong."
Speaking about the "transitions" of the UOC communities into its structure, Dumenko complained that "the situation has suspended a bit lately," and now there are only "isolated cases". But at the same time, he claims that it is wrong to call these transitions as transitions, because “they (UOC communities – Ed.) are actually based in Ukraine. Moreover, according to the decisions that were made by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, they all belong to the OCU."
Earlier, the head of the OCU said that there is a problem with the registration of religious communities in the country and insisted on the creation of a separate unit within the RSA.
Read also
Met. Varsonofiy сelebrates Liturgy at persecuted UOC parish in Stryzhavka
A UOC hierarch officiated the Nativity service and offered prayers for peace in Ukraine.
Seized Dormition Cathedral in Volodymyr transferred from UOC to OCU control
Huz stated that after being handed to the OCU, the Dormition Cathedral in Volodymyr will be “Ukrainian and alive”.
In Brussels, Cardinal Parolin urges Europe to remember its Christian roots
The Vatican Secretary of State spoke at the Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula on the occasion of its eight-hundredth anniversary and recalled Europe’s spiritual mission.
388 mln Christians face persecution and discrimination over faith – report
The organization Portes Ouvertes has published research findings concluding that pressure on believers worldwide has intensified.
Archbishop of Albania: Orthodoxy is a key pillar of Albania’s European path
During a visit to Brussels, the Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church underscored the importance of Orthodoxy for the country’s integration into the EU and for maintaining interreligious balance in society.
His Beatitude leads divine service at Lavra on Circumcision of the Lord feast
During the festive service at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, special prayers were offered for peace on the Ukrainian land and for God’s blessing upon the new year.