Dumenko: OCU Chooses Humility Despite Right to Judge UOC

KYIV — Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) leader Epiphany Dumenko said in a Facebook post that the OCU has the right to judge the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) but has instead chosen to respond with humility, patience, and calls for dialogue.

In the Aug. 16 post, Dumenko reflected on St. Paul’s defense of his apostleship in his First Epistle to the Corinthians. He compared Paul’s decision to voluntarily forgo certain rights for the sake of the Gospel with the OCU’s approach toward the UOC.

Dumenko argued that the OCU’s willingness to pursue dialogue and church peace should not be interpreted as weakness or uncertainty about its status. He said the OCU received its autocephaly and Tomos from the Ecumenical Patriarchate and considers itself the local Church in Ukraine.

Dumenko said the OCU could take a stricter approach toward what he called the followers of the “Russian world,” but has instead sought reconciliation. He said the Church would continue working for Orthodox unity in Ukraine while opposing teachings associated with the “Russian world.”

Dumenko concluded that the OCU has a special responsibility for Ukraine and will continue seeking what he considers most beneficial for the country’s Orthodox community.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Dumenko called for the "Russian world" to be eradicated from Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.