OCU pledges to establish museum in honor of UOC Metropolitan Sofroniy

OCU representatives in St. Michael’s Church, where Yaremenko plans to create a museum dedicated to Metropolitan Sofroniy. Photo: UOJ

Ivan Yaremenko, head of the Cherkasy Eparchy of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), announced plans to create a museum in memory of the late Metropolitan Sofroniy (Dmytruk) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).

According to Yaremenko, Metropolitan Sofroniy was a respected hierarch with significant influence in the UOC and a long-time supporter of the idea of Ukrainian autocephaly.

“He was a man who left a lasting mark on the life of the Orthodox Church,” Yaremenko noted. “In Cherkasy region, almost all the churches were built according to his designs. He is buried here, on the grounds of the St. Michael’s Garrison Church. We are now actively promoting a project to establish a museum in his memory.”

Yaremenko also emphasized that although Metropolitan Sofroniy did not participate in the Unification Council, it is believed that he supported the idea and was in favor of autocephaly for Ukraine – but did not join the OCU due to the stress such a move would have caused.

Earlier, UOJ reported that on October 17, 2024, OCU representatives seized the UOC cathedral in Cherkasy.

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