Dumenko: Ready for dialogue with those still in the Russian Patriarchate

Epifaniy Dumenko and Evstratiy Zoria with representatives of the World Council of Churches. Photo: pomisna.info

On April 10, 2024, the head of the OCU, Epifaniy Dumenko, stated that his structure is ready for dialogue with those "who are still in the Russian Patriarchate".

During his visit to the World Council of Churches, Dumenko discussed "the possibility of dialogue between Orthodox in Ukraine" with representatives of this organization.

"The position of our Church is consistent and unchanged – we are open to dialogue, to communion with those who are still subordinate to the Russian Patriarchate," said the head of the OCU.

However, he expressed regret that "we see the opposite position from our vis-à-vis – the leadership of the MP structure in Ukraine rejects dialogue with us point-blank."

"But we are still ready for contacts because our goal is to achieve the unity of all Orthodox in Ukraine, as defined by canon law and the Tomos on autocephaly," said the head of the OCU.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that in Hilcha, supporters of the OCU beat believers of the UOC who defended their church.

Also, representatives of the OCU beat believers of the UOC in Nosivka, and in Transcarpathia, activists of the OCU beat parishioners who brought minutes of the UOC community meeting to the local council.

In addition, in Kremenets, a supporter of the OCU, the school principal, beat the wife of a UOC priest.

Also, raiders from the OCU in Cherkasy broke the jaw of a UOC priest.

It should be noted that pursuant to the decisions of the UOC Synod in Feofania, in order for dialogue with representatives of the OCU to take place, they need to stop seizing churches and forcibly transferring parishes of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church; realize that their canonical status, as enshrined in the "Charter of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine", is effectively non-autocephalous, and resolve the issue of the canonical validity of its hierarchy.

Read also

Metropolitan Theodosiy: We must defend our churches and show that we exist

The UOC hierarch is confident that the time will come when the country returns to the rule of law, and those now persecuting the Church will be held accountable.