Epifaniy joins "prophets of war" choir in Ukraine
Epifaniy sprinkles Ukrainian soldiers. Photo: pomisna.info
On January 24, 2022, the head of the schismatic OCU, Epifaniy Dumenko, issued an appeal in which he called for a response to “hostile rhetoric and actions of the Russian Federation” and “blessed” the Ukrainians, the army and the state to resist the aggressor. The text of the appeal is posted on the OCU website.
“The concentration of Russian troops on the borders of our state, the dissemination of information about the plans of the aggressor to launch an invasion, other hostile statements and actions of the leaders of Russia call for our response,” the appeal, filled with militaristic rhetoric, says.
“Now that we have a renewed and combat-ready army, the strong support of allies among the democratic countries worldwide, we are able to successfully resist the attacker and destroy his plans,” Dumenko continued.
The head of the schismatic OCU thanked the United States, European countries and all allies "for their support, diplomatic, economic and military assistance" and called on Ukrainians to unite in the face of an external threat.
Epifaniy said that on January 30, his “priests” would additionally read special prayers for Ukraine in churches.
Meanwhile, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholics, Sviatoslav Shevchuk, also warned his flock that “the enemy is on the doorstep,” and the other day, the bishops of the UGCC in the United States said that the Russian Federation had pulled 100,000 people to the border with Ukraine in recent days.
At the same time, the Ukrainian authorities say the opposite. The head of the National Security and Defense Council said that he sees no grounds for alleging a full-scale attack on our country and stated that Ukraine cannot “commit a sin” and return the occupied territories of Donbas by military means. In his turn, Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal added that “you should not listen to the media that disperse disinformation.”
As the UOJ reported, Patriarch Theodore thanked the OCU "for allegiance to the second patriarchate."
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.