Dumenko arrives at Athos

Dumenko and Zoria at the Esphigmenou Monastery. Photo: fosfanariou

On October 10, 2025, Epifaniy Dumenko arrived on Mount Athos, where he visited the representation of the New Esphigmenou Monastery in Karyes.

Dumenko was received by Archimandrite Bartholomew, abbot of the Esphigmenou Monastery, in the presence of Metropolitan Apostolos of Miletus and the civil governor of Mount Athos, Alkiviadis Stefanis. Yevstratii Zoria accompanied Dumenko on his visit to Athos.

In his welcoming remarks, Archimandrite Bartholomew expressed his support for the OCU and called the granting of the Tomos of autocephaly a “bold and prophetic step.”

The abbot also drew a parallel between the war in Ukraine and the internal conflict within his own monastery, whose main building, he said, “has for many years been occupied by fundamentalists.”

“Through this struggle we feel a spiritual kinship with the struggle of the pious Ukrainian people and the OCU,” the abbot stated.

Recall that, according to Greek media, Dumenko’s visit to Athos has provoked tensions on the Holy Mountain.

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