OCCzLS's odious bishop gifts OCU relics of St. Wenceslaus, Duke of Bohemia
A bishop of the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia took part in a festive “service” of the OCU despite the Primate of the Church warning him about the consequences of such an act.
On November 21, 2019, Bishop Isaija (Slaninka) of Šumperk of the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia took part in an OCU “service” and presented Epifaniy Dumenko with relics of the martyr Wenceslaus, the official website of the newly formed religious organization reported.
It is noted that on the occasion of the patronal feast, Bishop Isaija of Šumperk gifted Epifaniy Dumenko a fragment of the relics of St. Wenceslaus (Vyacheslav), the martyr and Duke of Bohemia.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that Metropolitan Rastislav (Gonta) of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, in a personal letter, reminded Bishop Isaija that the Synod of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia had not recognized the autocephaly of the OCU. Therefore, the announcement by the Bishop of Šumperk regarding his participation in the festivities of the newly created ecclesial structure was “a manifestation of gross disregard and disrespect” toward the Primate and other members of the Synod.
In addition, the head of the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, Archbishop Rastislav, warned Bishop Isaija of the canonical consequences of concelebrating with the OCU.
