Former OCU “bishop” appointed to new see at Phanar
Patriarch Bartholomew with Epifanios Dimitriou. Photo: OCU press service
On May 26, 2026, the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople met at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George at the Phanar under the chairmanship of Patriarch Bartholomew. During the session, Synod members voted to appoint a vicar bishop – a former representative of Epifaniy Dumenko’s structure, UOJ Greece reports.
Epifanios Dimitriou received the status of Bishop of Hexamilion. Until recently, he had held the title of “Bishop of Olbia” in the jurisdiction of the OCU. He will now serve as an assistant to the head of the Phanar. Earlier, on May 11, 2026, the OCU Synod officially released him from his duties as vicar of the Kyiv Eparchy in connection with his transfer to the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Dimitriou himself permanently resides in Greece and personally expressed the wish to come under Constantinople’s direct authority.
In 2019, the OCU “Synod” elected Epifanios Dimitriou Bishop of Olbia, and on May 26 of that year his episcopal consecration took place with the participation of hierarchs of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. At the time, the appearance of a Greek cleric in Dumenko’s structure was linked to efforts to secure recognition of the OCU by other Local Orthodox Churches.
Before that, Dimitriou had been a cleric of the Metropolis of Demetrias and Almyros of the Church of Greece and had actively cooperated with the Phanar for many years. In particular, Patriarch Bartholomew awarded him for his involvement in efforts to revive the Halki Theological School.
As reported earlier by the UOJ, Patriarch Bartholomew accused the ROC of destroying Orthodox unity.
Read also
Wounded Catholic priest in Poland calls to forgive Ukrainian attacker
A Catholic priest wounded in the attack on a Benedictine abbey in Jarosław asked the faithful to pray for the attacker and not blame the Ukrainian people as a whole.
UOC begins celebrations honoring St. Kuksha of Odesa
A service on the eve of the feast day of St. Kuksha of Odesa was held at the Dormition Monastery.
Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Reserve raises concern over Sviatohirsk shrines
Exhibition organizers stressed the need to document the impact of the war on Sviatohirsk in order to preserve Ukrainian identity.
Favor Foundation donates food and diapers to Kharkiv hospital
The UOC charity provided hygiene supplies for patients at an emergency hospital in Kharkiv.
Dumenko presents awards to staff ahead of Soviet-era Reserve’s anniversary
The OCU claimed that the creation of the Soviet museum made it possible to preserve the Kyiv Caves Lavra during the years of atheist persecution.
UOJ-USA publishes scandalous Phanar document about chronicles of OCU creation
In the document prepared for Patriarch Bartholomew, a Phanar representative described the SBU's surveillance of the Constantinople delegation and Poroshenko's pressure on the course of the "Unification Council."