Ukrainian authorities complain to Phanar that Dumenko hinders OCU-UOC unity

Epifaniy Dumenko. Photo: bbc.com

Ukrainian authorities have complained to the Patriarchate of Constantinople about Epifaniy Dumenko, claiming that he is hindering the unity of Orthodoxy in Ukraine.

The Greek outlet “Romfea”, citing its sources, claims that the Phanar "receives complaints from the Ukrainian authorities that Metropolitan Epifaniy does nothing to unite the Churches (the UOC and the OCU – Ed.), but on the contrary, hinders it."

"Romfea" stresses that "violent seizures of UOC temples by OCU supporters, with the use of weapons and tear gas, as well as mass beatings of believers, make dialogue with the UOC impossible."

"These actions, instead of uniting the Churches, only consolidated the faithful of the UOC against the OCU," wrote “Romfea”.

There recalled that from 2018 to today "none of the 100 bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has joined the OCU, and the seized churches remain empty, as there is no one to serve in them".

As reported by the UOJ, according to Romfea, a year ago Zelensky requested the Phanar to give the OCU the status of patriarchate.

Read also

Cherkasy sisters of mercy express support for Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra brethren

The sisters of the Martha and Mary Convent hope that the holy relics and the Lavra will soon be returned to Orthodox believers.

250 believers of Transfiguration Church, Kerstentsi, confirm loyalty to UOC

At the same time, the activists of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine were unable to gather 50 people for their vote on the "transfer" of the Orthodox community.