Dumenko assures British Ambassador that OCU does not seize UOC temples
On August 5, 2022, the head of the OCU, Epifaniy Dumenko, met with the British Ambassador to Ukraine Melinda Simmons, at which he assured the OCU was not seizing the temples of the UOC, the OCU website reports.
As stated in the message, referring to the issue of transferring the parishes of the UOC to the jurisdiction of the OCU, Dumenko stressed that "the key position is the exclusively voluntary and peaceful nature of this process."
“Understanding the role of the Church, we stand firmly against inciting religious hatred. At the same time, the fact that communities have a full and legitimate right to their self-determination and change of jurisdiction is indisputable. It has long been obvious that this process cannot be stopped , whatever manipulations and false interpretations around this issue,” Dumenko said.
As previously reported by the UOJ, the OCU was outraged by the criminal cases against the organizers of the "transitions" from the UOC.
Read also
Ivano-Frankivsk scraps school project planned on demolished UOC church site
The authorities in Ivano-Frankivsk have dropped plans to build the school for whose construction a UOC church was demolished.
Shostatsky to UOC: If you are so righteous – do not cling to your churches
The OCU metropolitan called on UOC faithful and clergy to pray rather than defend their churches from seizures.
Archbishop John: The Church is not a special group – it is open to everyone
The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Albania explained why the Church cannot shut itself off from people and what danger arises when believers begin to feel that it is “ours.”
Shostatsky: We have a real personnel shortage in the OCU
Metropolitan Simeon (Shostatsky) said that OCU clerics have to travel to as many as five parishes over a weekend so that believers are not left without services.
At the Zimne Monastery, an event was held in support of families of fallen soldiers
The Holy Dormition Monastery in Volhynia hosted an event to support mothers and loved ones of servicemen killed in the war.
Great schema tonsure performed in Mohyliv-Podilskyi Eparchy
The rite of tonsure into the great schema at St. Paraskeva Church in Mohyliv-Podilskyi was performed by the secretary of the Vinnytsia Eparchy.