Dumenko: Unless authorities support the OCU, Putin will come here
"Metropolitan" Epifaniy Dumenko. Photo: bbc.com
If the authorities do not support the OCU, Putin will come to Ukraine. This forecast was given by "Metropolitan" Epifaniy Dumenko in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.
Dumenko said that the authorities should support the OCU, since "there is an ongoing war," although "this is not visible in Kyiv and most of Ukraine." According to him, in all branches of government there are still people who “understand the significance of the existence of an independent autocephalous Orthodox Church in Ukraine,” but their number is not enough.
“The authorities, within the framework of the law, should support the development of the OCU, because it is the Church that strives for the Ukrainian state to be strong. This Church will always lend a shoulder to the Ukrainian state, because it aims to make Ukraine united. If we do not support the Ukrainian authorities, then there will be no Ukraine either. What happens next? Putin will come here. We see what is happening in Crimea and Donbas – there is no freedom there at all. Of course, we do not want to have the same scenario here,” said the head of the OCU.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that Dumenko stated that the longer the Ukrainian presidents are in power, the more they support the OCU.
Read also
ROCOR Priest Reflects on Trip to Capitol Hill
Archpriest Victor Boldewskul participated in the Society of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco's Day of Action to raise awareness about the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Hundreds of Chinese Christians Arrested in Pre-Christmas Crackdown
Hundreds of Chinese Christians face spending Christmas in detention after authorities launched a sweeping pre-holiday crackdown on churches under Beijing’s campaign to control religious life.
Ukraine Adviser: UOC Not Banned, but Offered a 'Choice' of Jurisdictions
A Ukrainian presidential adviser said the UOC is not banned but pressured to choose between joining the OCU, submitting to Constantinople, or remaining unregistered, while dismissing international concerns as propaganda.
Indiana Reports 98% Drop in Abortions Under Stricter Law
Indiana’s latest health report shows a 98% drop in reported abortions under stricter laws, though dozens still occurred under legal exceptions and concerns persist about unreported pill abortions.
Armenian Apostolic Church Pushes Back on Political Encroachment
The Armenian Apostolic Church plans to appeal to international bodies to resist government interference and defend its clergy and sacred relics.
Attempted Takeover at Armenian Etchmiadzin Cathedral Thwarted by Faithful
Supporters of Armenian PM Pashinyan attempted to storm Etchmiadzin Cathedral amid calls for the Catholicos’s resignation but were blocked by parishioners and security.