Patriarch Bartholomew: Epifaniy’s piety fully justifies our hopes

Dumenko and Patriarch Bartholomew at the Phanar. Photo: OCU

The head of the Church of Constantinople, Patriarch Bartholomew, congratulated Epifaniy on the 7th anniversary of his enthronement as head of the OCU and sent him a congratulatory letter in which he stated that Dumenko’s activity fully justifies the hopes of the Ecumenical Throne.

Patriarch Bartholomew said that the seed of grace he had sown in Ukraine “was watered by the sweat and the prayer of love” of Epifaniy and, as a result, “bore abundant fruits – as a living testimony to the presence of the Holy Spirit the Comforter among the pious Ukrainian people.”

However, Patriarch Bartholomew did not specify what exactly these “abundant fruits” of Serhiy Dumenko’s prayer are.

According to him, in the present difficult time, Epifaniy “as a vigilant watchman, stands firmly and unshakably on the spiritual heights, comforting, strengthening, and inspiring the spiritual flock.”

The Patriarch assured that the “wisdom, prudence, and piety” of Serhiy Petrovych “fully justify the hopes of the Mother Church, which rejoices in the Lord as it beholds the successes of her daughter and sister – the Ukrainian Church.”

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Patriarch Bartholomew had promised not to revoke the Tomos from the OCU.

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