Dumenko: We have the right to judge UOC, but we are very humble

Epifaniy Dumenko. Photo: OCU

The head of the OCU, Serhiy Dumenko, published on Facebook spiritual-canonical reflections in which he declared his organization's right to judge the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

"Instead of strict demands toward the followers of Russian Pharisaism in Ukraine, we show humility, calling them to brotherly dialogue, to understanding and unity, rather than passing judgment on them in accordance with the canons," Dumenko said, drawing a parallel between the UOC and the actions of the ROC in Africa toward the Patriarchate of Alexandria.

He emphasized that the OCU treats the UOC "gently," but this should not be perceived by anyone as proof that his structure has no right to judge the UOC, or that it "harbors any doubt in this regard."

Dumenko also criticized the Local Churches that have not recognized his structure, comparing the OCU to the Apostle Paul.

"Let somewhere far away, for some, we are not a Local Church just as Paul, for some, was not an apostle as he says, for Ukraine we are the Local Church," Dumenko stated.

Developing this original thought, he emphasized that “zealous followers of the Russian Patriarchate act in the same way as the opponents of the Apostle Paul did.”

"They accuse us, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, of not being from them and not having received recognition according to the rules invented by them," the head of the OCU stated. Dumenko did not clarify what he meant by the expression "rules invented by them."

According to him, just as the authenticity of Paul's apostleship did not depend on the opinion of his opponents, so too the recognition of the OCU's legitimacy did not depend on Moscow.

"Just as Paul was called to become an apostle by the Head of the Church Himself, so too we received the Tomos and the proclamation of our dignity as an autocephalous Local Church from the first among the Primates of the Orthodox Church – from the Ecumenical Patriarch, who alone is vested by the conciliar canons with such a right," Dumenko stated.

The UOJ previously reported that Serhiy Dumenko called the words of Christ a "saying."

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