Mount Athos monks decline to attend Epifaniy’s enthronement
On January 28, 2019, the Holy Community of Mount Athos, meeting in an extraordinary session, decided to reject a request from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to send an Athonite delegation to the enthronement of the “new Ukrainian primate,” Epifaniy Dumenko, Greek outlet Romfea reported.
According to Romfea, only seven of Mount Athos’ 20 monasteries voted in favor of attending the enthronement of OCU head Epifaniy Dumenko in Kyiv on February 3, 2019.
The Athonite decision caused concern at the Phanar, as the monks declined to support either side in Ukraine’s religious conflict and continued to maintain a neutral stance.
The enthronement of “Metropolitan” Epifaniy will take place at St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv. Dumenko also invited UGCC head Sviatoslav Shevchuk to attend. The OCU “primate” stressed that his church structure should develop its cooperation with the Uniates.
