OCU disappointed by "unfriendly attitude" of the Polish Church

Primate of the Polish Church, Metropolitan Sawa. Photo: Polish Church website

On February 3, 2025, the OCU Synod expressed "deep regret" over the Polish Church’s decision to ignore Epiphanius Dumenko’s visit to the country in December 2024. The official OCU website published a corresponding statement.

Additionally, the synod members "expressed support" for Dumenko’s call for a "dialogue without preconditions" with the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which he voiced during his speech at the "European Consultation on a Just Peace". The event was organized by the Conference of European Churches and the Polish Ecumenical Council.

"At the same time, the members of the Synod were compelled to express deep regret over yet another demonstration of an unfriendly and biased attitude toward the Orthodox Church of Ukraine by the leadership of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church. Its leaders deliberately ignored an important peace-making ecumenical meeting," the OCU Synod's statement reads.

It is worth recalling that the Polish Church has officially referred to the "hierarchy" of the OCU as laypeople. Meanwhile, OCU clergy feel offended that the Polish Church considers them impostors.

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