Religious scholar: Phanar criticizes the actions of the OCU head

Dumenko at the Phanar. Archive photo. Photo: orthodoxtimes.com

On December 8, 2024, Oleksandr Sarapin, an associate professor at the Department of Religious Studies of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, delivered a report assessing the current confessional situation in Ukraine.

Oleksandr Sarapin emphasized that despite the OCU's efforts to position itself as the only canonical Orthodox structure in Ukraine, this claim raises doubts. Epifaniy has repeatedly stated the "abnormality" of the UOC's presence (the report includes a quote from Dumenko, where the Church is referred to as the Moscow Patriarchate) on Ukrainian territory, particularly in the southern and eastern regions, which he considers to violate canonical order. However, according to Sarapin, this rhetoric demonstrates the OCU's aspiration to absorb other Orthodox structures rather than to reunify Ukraine's Orthodox community.

In his report, the religious scholar mentioned the outcomes of the Holy Synod meeting of the Ecumenical Patriarchate held on November 25, 2024. At the meeting, the prospects of dialogue between the OCU and the UOC were discussed. However, Synod members concluded that both sides maintain firm positions and show no willingness to seek compromises for mutual understanding. This complicates any prospects of creating a unified Orthodox structure in Ukraine.

As previously reported by the UOJ, the Patriarchate of Constantinople expressed dissatisfaction with a meeting involving Dumenko.

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