When the “primate of a local church” is welcomed by 50 people in the eparchy

Dumenko in Kamianets-Podilskyi. Photo: OCU press service

“The Kamianets-Podilskyi Eparchy joyfully welcomed the Primate of the OCU – His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Epiphany. A moleben was held on the foundation of the destroyed Ukrainian Cathedral, and a cross was consecrated,” wrote the OCU, accompanied by published photos. Well, they wrote it – so be it. But why are we writing about this?

Let’s present a few objective facts. Kamianets itself has a population of 100,000. The Kamianets-Podilskyi district – another 300,000. That’s without counting other districts included in the Kamianets-Podilskyi Eparchy of the OCU. Of all these, at most 40–50 people came to meet the “primate of the Local Church.” Some of them were in shorts – clearly passersby or casual onlookers. And this despite the fact that it was a weekend, and despite the pompous advertising urging residents to attend a “Ukrainian prayer with your primate.”

Even if we only use the figure of 400,000 (city + district), ignoring the rest of the eparchy, this means that 0.01% of the population came out to meet the head of what is said to be the largest religious organization in Ukraine.

One might say no further commentary is needed. The next time Dumenko touts another opinion poll claiming 80–90% of Ukrainians support the OCU, it’s worth remembering this little episode.

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