Patr. Bartholomew Promises Not to Revoke Tomos as Dumenko Seeks to 'Strengthen Church Unity'
Epiphany Dumenko led an OCU delegation to Istanbul for the seventh anniversary of the Tomos of autocephaly and the Feast of Theophany.
ISTANBUL — A delegation of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), headed by "Epiphany" Dumenko, has begun an official visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate to mark the seventh anniversary of the controversial granting of the Tomos of autocephaly.
As shared in a release by the OCU, Dumenko is accompanied by other "hierarchs" and "priests" of the state-backed structure.
The visit began on January 4, 2026, with the delegation’s arrival in Istanbul, where they were welcomed by representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Ukrainian diplomats led by the Consul General of Ukraine in Istanbul, Roman Nedilskyi. Later that day, a meeting and dinner were held at the Metropolis of Chalcedon with the blessing of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, organized by Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon. On January 5, Dumenko participated in the Blessing of Waters with Patriarch Bartholomew.
An official meeting between Bartholomew and Dumenko followed at the Patriarchal residence. During the meeting, Dumenko expressed gratitude to the Ecumenical Patriarch for the decision taken seven years ago to grant autocephaly to the schismatic church.
"We also reaffirm again and again that we seek to strengthen church unity in Ukraine and are sincerely open to constructive dialogue on the basis of the Tomos of autocephaly,” Dumenko said. This sentiment stands in stark contrast to recent statements given by Dumenko, notably to much different audiences.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, in turn, reaffirmed that the decision to grant the Tomos of autocephaly remains firm and unchanged, describing it as the "canonical response of the Mother Church" to the long-standing requests of the clergy, faithful, and state of Ukraine.
"We assure you that our decision to grant the Tomos of autocephaly was, is, and will remain firm and unchanging," Bartholomew said. "Such is the canonical order, and such is the response of the Mother Church to the numerous requests of your clergy, people, and state."
Previously, UOJ reported on a former cleric of the OCU who said Dumenko follows state orders and Constantinople regrets the Tomos.
