Unexpectedly: Dumenko calls OCU largest religious organization in Ukraine

Epiphany Dumenko with the “hierarchs” of the OCU in the half-empty temple of Drabinko. Photo: pomisna.info

On December 15, 2020, the head of the OCU, Epiphany Dumenko, during a speech at the “Bishops' Council”, said that his structure is the largest religious organization in Ukraine.

According to Epiphany, the OCU "by all indicators continues to be one of the largest Local Orthodox Churches and also remains the largest in number and support (highlighted by UOJ - Ed.) religious organization in Ukraine".

Dumenko said that in all regions of the country, except for the East, the number of supporters of the OCU "significantly exceeds the number of supporters of the Moscow Patriarchate – even where the current parishes of the OCU are in the minority".

Dumenko also stated that at the moment the OCU consists of "44 eparchies, more than 7000 parishes, 77 monasteries, 10 higher theological educational institutions, which teach 1101 students, more than 4.5 thousand clergy, and 62 bishops."

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that according to the report of the UOC Chancellor, Metropolitan Anthony of Brovary, in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in 2020 there were 12,374 parishes, 12,456 clerics, 255 monasteries, 4,548 monks, 109 bishops, and 1,531 students of religious institutions.

Let us remind you that on October 11 Epiphany and 11 “hierarchs” of the OCU “served” in Drabinko's half-empty Cathedral.

On October 19, the spokesperson for the OCU Eustratiy Zoria posted on his Facebook photos from the Sunday service at the Catherine Cathedral, which shows that there were up to 10 parishioners in the temple.

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