In Kyiv, OCU allowed into St. Cyril’s Church
Dumenko and associates at St. Cyril’s Church of Kyiv. Photo: OCU
On May 11, 2025, the head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), Serhii Dumenko, together with his associates, held a religious event at the ancient St. Cyril’s Church of Kyiv, reports the OCU website.
“From now on and until the liberation of the Luhansk region from Russian occupation, the St. Cyril’s Church will serve as the center of the Luhansk Eparchy. Therefore, during the service, representatives of the local authorities of the region, led by the head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration and Regional Military Administration, Oleksii Kharchenko, prayed along with internally displaced persons,” the OCU website stated.
St. Cyril’s Church is under the administration of the National Reserve “Saint Sophia of Kyiv”. Since 2011, it has housed the Cyril Monastery of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). The lease agreement with the Ministry of Culture expired on January 30, 2025. Officials declined to renew the lease for the monastery.
The OCU did not specify on what legal basis the church was designated the “center of the Luhansk Eparchy”.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that an OCU cleric had accidentally shown that he was serving on an antimins signed by Patriarch Kirill.
Read also
Kosovo to enact law restricting Serbian Church, experts say
Analysts warn that the new "Law on Foreigners" in Kosovo could restrict the presence of clergy, believers' access to shrines, and increase pressure on the Serbian community.
Congress Speaker: Demand to introduce Sharia law in USA is a serious problem
The Speaker of the House of Representatives stated that there is growing concern in society about attempts to impose Islamic law, which is incompatible with the American Constitution.
UK government introduces restrictions on "anti-Muslim hostility"
UK authorities have adopted a new definition of "Islamophobia" which, according to experts, could provide Muslims with special protection and restrict freedom of speech.
Dumenko brings icon in Church Slavonic to Ministry of Health
Epifaniy presented cardiologists with an Intercession icon, with inscriptions in Church Slavonic, which his structure calls a "sign of the Moscow tradition".
ISIS supporters carries out terrorist attack at anti-Islamic protest in NY
Near the home of New York's Muslim mayor, radicals threw two makeshift bombs at protesters during an anti-Islamic rally.
Hryshchuk: If UOC hands over its church itself, angle grinders aren't needed
An OCU chaplain called on UOC believers to accept the loss of the shrine for the sake of their own "enlightenment".