Dumenko discusses UOC-banning law with head of Papal Council in the Vatican
Representatives of the OCU meeting with Cardinal Koch. Photo: OCU
On December 13, 2024, Epifaniy Dumenko, head of the OCU, met with Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, the OCU's press service reported.
During the meeting, Epifaniy briefed the cardinal on the current situation in Ukraine related to Russian military aggression. He also praised the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations as "a platform for constructive dialogue and fruitful interaction among the country’s religious communities."
Epifaniy highlighted the good relations between the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Catholic Churches of both the Latin and Eastern rites operating in Ukraine.
In response to questions from Cardinal Koch, Dumenko described the state of freedom of religion in Ukraine, emphasizing "religious persecutions carried out by Russian occupation authorities in temporarily occupied territories."
In the context of religious freedom, the parties discussed amendments to Ukrainian legislation related to the ban on the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church and other religious centers under Russian control. The OCU's website stated that these religious centers are being used as instruments of hybrid aggression.
As previously reported by the UOJ, Pope Francis received Epifaniy Dumenko at the Vatican.
Read also
Sand for construction of Yermak’s residence brought from cemetery, MP says
MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak said that sand illegally removed from a cemetery in Ukrainka was used in the construction of the elite Dynasty cooperative in Kozyn.
Italian court recognizes family with three parents as legal
In Bari, the appellate court ordered authorities to register an adoption according to which a child is listed as having two "fathers" and one mother.
Archaeologists discover biblical Bethsaida on shore of Sea of Galilee
Researchers have discovered a first-century residential house beneath the apse of a Byzantine church and a mosaic inscription mentioning the Apostle Peter.
Israeli soldiers receive jail terms for mocking statue of the Virgin Mary
Those involved in the act of sacrilege in the village of Debel will spend several weeks behind bars for desecrating a statue of the Mother of God.
Serbian Church officially receives back land of 15th-century monastery
An agreement was signed in Belgrade transferring the territory of the ancient Vojlovica Monastery to the Banat Eparchy.
Pat Daniel comments on conflict between Phanar bishop and community in Turkey
The Bulgarian Primate believes that the hierarch of the Constantinople Patriarchate should not have forced the Bulgarian community in Edirne to serve in Greek.