Dumenko gathers in Kyiv clergy who left UOC for OCU
All 38 clergy who voluntarily left the UOC over the seven years of the OCU’s existence gathered at St Michael’s Monastery.
To mark the anniversary of the establishment of the OCU, Serhii Dumenko gathered in Kyiv clergy who had voluntarily transferred from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to his structure. According to photographs published on the official OCU website, 38 people assembled together with Dumenko at St Michael’s Monastery. Dumenko did not specify whether he managed to gather everyone who had voluntarily joined his structure, or whether someone was unable to attend.
The head of the OCU described the meeting with these individuals as “a gathering of the clergy of stauropegial and other parishes.”
It was reported that the meeting discussed “inter-Orthodox dialogue in Ukraine, parish transfers to the OCU, relations with other Local Orthodox Churches, countering information manipulation, the situation at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, and other important issues.”
An “Appeal” by the clergy who transferred to the OCU, addressed to the episcopate and clergy of the UOC, was also adopted.
The document states that the creation of the OCU “finally shaped the canonical reality on Ukrainian soil.” The authors of the text described the UOC as “a self-governing part of the Moscow Patriarchate” and lamented that its episcopate and clergy “in the overwhelming majority ignored the historic opportunity for timely and conciliar unity, rejecting the invitation of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.”
“By doing so, they consciously continued the schism,” the defectors stated.
At the same time, the authors of the Appeal praised themselves, declaring that by transferring to the OCU they had “made a courageous choice.” “This act is not merely a change of jurisdiction but, above all, an act of genuine inner transformation and canonical correction,” the text says.
The authors further claimed that the UOC is in “spiritual isolation” and called on bishops, priests, and faithful to “realize the full responsibility of the moment and make their own decisive and timely step toward the single Local Church.”
Earlier, the UOJ reported that, according to Dumenko, the unity of all Ukrainian Orthodoxy had already been achieved seven years ago.
