OCU announces end of Filaret schism
Dumenko and Denysenko. Photo: OCU
The OCU has declared that the Filaret schism, which began in 2019, is over. The announcement was made in a statement issued by its Bishops’ Council on July 15, 2026, and signed by Serhiy Dumenko.
The “bishops,” who met at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra seized from the UOC, stated that “despite frantic attempts by pro-Russian forces and other opponents of OCU unity to obstruct reconciliation” between Serhiy Dumenko and Filaret Denysenko, “we succeeded in overcoming the crisis that arose in 2019.”
The statement does not explain which forces allegedly obstructed Dumenko’s reconciliation with Filaret or what this reconciliation consisted of in practical terms. The OCU “hierarchs” merely noted that, for the first time, they were celebrating the Baptism of Rus’ at St. Volodymyr’s Cathedral, where Filaret had served throughout his life.
Filaret, who restored his Kyiv Patriarchate shortly after the OCU was established, continued to insist on the independence of his structure until the end of his life and forbade representatives of Dumenko’s organization from conducting his funeral.
Read also
TRC officers draft UOC priest in Chernihiv
TRC officers have detain Archpriest Pavlo Tovstohon of the Christ's Nativity Church.
Patriarch Bartholomew and Shevchuk discuss obstacles to ecumenical unity
The head of the UGCC said that replacing Christian patriotism with the idea of loyalty to a "warring god" is an obstacle to ecumenical dialogue.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry plans advocacy visits abroad for UCCRO
Members of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations have planned advocacy visits abroad following a meeting with Ukraine’s deputy foreign minister.
UOC priest detained by recruitment officers in Kyiv sent to training ground
UOC priest Maksym Kostiuchenko, who was detained on his way to a church service in Kyiv, has been sent to a military training ground in Chernihiv Region.
25 tons of humanitarian aid from Volyn reach Sviatohirsk Lavra
Around 25 tons of food donated by believers of the UOC Volyn Eparchy arrived at Sviatohirsk Lavra on October 22.
UOC West European Vicariate holds children's camp in Germany
A children’s camp was held in the UOC’s Western Deanery in Germany from October 19 to 23.