OCU “Bishops’ Council” praises government for UOC banning law

People in kamilavkas voting. Photo: OCU website

On July 14, 2025, the authorities allowed the OCU “hierarchs” into the Refectory Church of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra to hold a “bishops’ council.”

According to the OCU website, the participants of the “council” praised the activities of Epifaniy Dumenko, expressed their “full support” for him, and also spoke about dialogue within Ukrainian Orthodoxy.

The participants called the UOC the “Moscow Patriarchate Metropolia in Ukraine,” “expressed deep regret over its leadership’s ultimatum-like refusal of dialogue,” and “testified to the success of such dialogue at the level of religious communities.”

The “hierarchs” also welcomed the adoption of the law banning the UOC and expressed hope “for the further effective implementation of the relevant legislative provisions.”

Earlier, the Union of Orthodox Journalists reported that the authorities have criticized Dumenko for ineffective management and the large number of closed churches.

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