Epifaniy: No one was outraged by OCU at the funeral of Bulgarian Patriarch

OCU delegation at the funeral of the Bulgarian patriarch. Photo: screenshot from Channel 24

The head of the OCU, Epifaniy Dumenko, stated that the process of recognition of his structure by Local Churches is coming along, according to Radio Liberty.

"The majority of the Bulgarian population now supports Ukraine. Although before the full-scale invasion, there was no such majority there. And my presence at the funeral of the Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte indicates that gradually, we are gaining recognition from other Local Orthodox Churches. Because delegations from practically all Local Churches were present there. And no one expressed outrage either afterwards or during the service," he explained.

According to Dumenko, after Ukraine's victory in the war with Russia, the Local Churches will recognize the OCU.

As reported by the UOJ, members of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church did express concern about this, as the Bulgarian Orthodox Church had not recognized Dumenko's structure. Therefore, the presence of the OCU delegation at the funeral caused controversy. Metropolitan Ioann of Varna and Veliki Preslav stated that Epifaniy Dumenko's arrival might unsettle some people, as his status had not yet been determined.

At the moment when Dumenko, standing on the solea, attempted to enter the altar, cries could be heard in the church addressed to the OCU delegation: "Sergei Dumenko, depart! Schismatics and heretics, depart!"

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