OCU "expects concrete proposals" for dialogue after UOC Council

On 31 May 2022, the OCU convened a "Synod" to respond to the resolutions of the Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, reports the structure's website.

The "bishops" said that the UOC Council did not condemn Patriarch Kirill's position on the war in Ukraine strongly enough and did not "make demands on him to change this position".

The OCU also spoke out on the subject of dialogue with the UOC. "The Synod of the OCU expresses its joy over the agreement in principle by the UOC religious association on the need for dialogue between the two Orthodox jurisdictions in Ukraine. For our part, we reaffirm that such a dialogue should begin without preconditions or ultimatums. We expect concrete proposals from the other side regarding the first steps in the dialogue and the appointment of those responsible for the dialogue," Dumenko wrote on his website.

It should be reminded that the Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which took place in the Panteleimon Monastery in Feofaniya on May 27, 2022, set out specific preconditions under which dialogue with the OCU is possible. Among them are an end to the seizure of UOC churches and the reordination of the "hierarchs" of Dumenko's structure by canonical bishops.

As reported, the Council declared full independence of the UOC.

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