Contrary to Tomos: OCU creates church structure in Czech Republic

Patriarch Bartholomew granting the Tomos to Epifaniy Dumenko. Source: Zn.ua

On August 21, 2025, the OCU announced on its social networks that it is creating the first "Chaplaincy Mission" in the Czech Republic, which contradicts the Tomos of 2019, reports the Czech representation of the UOJ.

The organizers present this as spiritual support for Ukrainian believers living in the Czech Republic, and the first service is scheduled for August 23 in Brno.

Although the Dumenko structure claims that their mission will operate "in the spirit of the Tomos," this directly contradicts the document provided to it by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in 2019. According to the Tomos, the OCU does not have the right to create parishes and church structures outside Ukraine.

Despite this, Epifaniy Dumenko announces the spread of "OCU chaplaincy missions" throughout Europe.

The UOJ reminds that in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, there operates the Autocephalous Orthodox Church in the Czech Lands and Slovakia (OCCLS), the only canonically recognized Orthodox Church in this territory. This means that the entire territory of the Czech Republic and Slovakia is its exclusive canonical jurisdiction. Without the knowledge and consent of its highest representative – the metropolitan – no other Orthodox structure can be established here.

"It is also significant that the Orthodox Church in the Czech Republic and Slovakia still does not recognize the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) as canonical, just like most other local Orthodox churches. Therefore, any of its activities on the canonical territory of the OCCLS is considered illegal," the message states.

As reported by the UOJ, the Head of the Czech Church congratulated the Beatitude on the anniversary of his primacy.

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