No place for UOC hardliners in OCU, says Epifaniy Dumenko

Epifaniy Dumenko. Photo: TSN

In an interview with TSN, Serhiy Dumenko, head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), stated that the OCU is open to unification with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), yet at the same time labeled it “spiritual occupiers.”

Dumenko lamented that the OCU “Council of Bishops” had repeatedly called on the UOC “for unity and dialogue,” but claimed these appeals are constantly rejected.

“We are open – truly open. We are ready to sit down, talk, and engage in dialogue,” said Serhiy Petrovych, while cautioning that the OCU is not ready to unite with everyone.

“We do not see them in the Ukrainian Church,” he said, citing Metropolitan Theodosiy of Cherkasy as an example. Epifaniy complained that the Metropolitan “acts against both the Ukrainian state and the Ukrainian church on various international platforms.”

“There are many such figures in the so-called Ukrainian Church of the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine, who will never join. They will continue to speak out and fight openly against Ukraine and against the Ukrainian Church,” Dumenko declared.

When asked whether he would be willing to meet with His Beatitude Onuphry should the latter express such a willingness, Dumenko remarked that they have not crossed paths for two years, since the UOC Primate “does not participate in any state events.” “And as far as we know, he remains unwavering in his position regarding relations with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” Serhiy Petrovych added.

Earlier, Dumenko had complained that Russia was removing altars and icons from OCU churches.

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