Yelensky states that almost 2,000 UOC communities "transferred" to OCU
In Chernivtsi, a believer persuades a UOC priest to voluntarily join the OCU. Photo: UOJ
The head of the State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS), Viktor Yelensky, stated that after receiving the Tomos, almost 2,000 parishes of the UOC "transferred" to the OCU. He reported this in an interview with "Radio Culture".
According to Yelensky, this number is significant: "Almost 2,000 parishes transferred to the OCU. This is a lot. This is more than several local Orthodox churches combined." At the same time, the official acknowledged that this constitutes less than 17% of the total number of UOC parishes.
Yelensky explained the relatively low percentage of "transfers" by the fact that "church life never changes rapidly".
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that, according to Yelensky, for the UOC to break with Moscow, it does not need to appeal to the Moscow Patriarchate.
Read also
Catholic church in U.S. demolished to make way for gas station
A major restructuring of the Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit has led to the demolition of a church in Roseville.
Ukrainian man stabs five at Catholic monastery in Poland, killing priest
Police detained a 31-year-old Ukrainian citizen who attacked a monastery in Poland, fatally stabbing a Catholic priest.
Phanar archon says why election of new Paphos Metropolitan is illegitimate
A Phanar archon argues that the procedure for filling the vacant see of Paphos violated both the old and new Charters of the Church of Cyprus.
UOC church in Kyiv’s Priorka district damaged in Russian attack
The dome and windows of the UOC’s Church of the Intercession were damaged during an overnight Russian attack on the Ukrainian capital.
Thousands join cross procession to Boyany Monastery in Bukovyna
Several thousand faithful walked 10 kilometers from the outskirts of Chernivtsi to venerate the wonderworking icon of the Mother of God.
SBU searches Metropolitan Pimen’s residence, media report
The Security Service of Ukraine conducted searches at the premises of the hierarch of the Rivne Eparchy as part of proceedings under an article on high treason.