Discrediting church awards

Dumenko awarding Haidai with a church order. Photo: OCU

On August 2, 2025, NABU and SAP officers arrested the head of the Mukachevo District Administration and former head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration, Serhiy Haidai, for large-scale corruption.

Haidai is a recipient of several awards from the OCU, including the Order of the Archangel Michael. He visited Dumenko at his residence, stood alongside him during a “liturgy” in the St. Cyril Church in Kyiv, which had been seized from the UOC, and even promoted the strange idea of making this church the seat of the OCU’s Luhansk eparchy.

In short – a full merger of the official and Dumenko’s structure. And yet, it remains unclear for what exactly Dumenko was awarding him. Haidai has no notable merits before the Orthodox faith – nor could he possibly have any.

Or is it really unclear? It’s perfectly clear: Dumenko hands out church awards to anyone who might be of use to him. At nearly every meeting with officials, ambassadors, or diplomats, Serhii Petrovych bestows a certificate, medal, or order on his guests.

One might say there’s no reason to question such behavior – it entirely fits the spiritual and moral portrait of Dumenko. It’s natural for him.

But there’s a catch. Until recently, similar practices were found in the UOC as well. Haidai himself, according to media reports, received the Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in 2017. And before the era of persecution against the UOC began, there were many such “Haidais.” Ruling hierarchs would often award local officials and administrators not for their outstanding service to the Church, but simply to maintain good relations – in effect, doing the same thing Dumenko is doing now.

Of course, the UOC is now suffering greatly; it is being persecuted and destroyed.
But at the same time, this moment offers a chance to reflect – to see ourselves as we are, to recognize what we once ignored.
And to be cleansed.

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