Epifaniy prays for Patriarch Kirill's long life during a service at Phanar

Dumenko and Zoria at a service with Patriarch Bartholomew. Photo: pomisna.info

On March 9, 2025, the first Sunday of Great Lent, during the Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy service at the Phanar, the leader of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), Epifaniy Dumenko, prayed for the long life of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow.

As seen in a video published by UOC clergyman Andriy Hlushchenko, during the service, the patriarchal protodeacon read the traditional list (diptych) of the Primates of the Local Churches. After mentioning Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria, the proclamation πολλὰ τα ἔτη ("Many years") was also made for Patriarch Kirill of Moscow.

Notably, the head of the OCU, as well as his assistant Yevstratiy Zoria, who concelebrated with Patriarch Bartholomew that day, did not express any protest or attempt to stop the service, despite their previously stated public rhetoric regarding the Russian Orthodox Church.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Epifaniy Dumenko explained why he commemorates Patriarch Kirill.

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