Dumenko on Church Seizures: ‘The Process is Ongoing and Irreversible’

PRAGUE — Epiphany Dumenko, head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), has defended the ongoing seizures of churches, describing the process as “ongoing and irreversible" while criticizing the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) for a lack of progress towards dialogue. 

In an interview with Ukrinform, Dumenko said how communities that are a part of the UOC continue to join the OCU. He acknowledged that the process has not been as quick as he would have liked, stating that creating a new church takes time.

Dumenko expressed how the OCU is open for dialogue and communication between the two churches but claimed that the UOC leadership has been unwilling to engage in negotiations unless the OCU changes its position on its ecclesiastical status.

“We do not agree to such terms of capitulation," he said. "We are working to build up and strengthen our local Ukrainian Church. The process is ongoing and irreversible. Perhaps people would have liked everything to happen faster, but unfortunately, it is not that simple, and the Church issue requires time. Parishes from the Moscow Patriarchate are joining our family of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, and therefore we are convinced that we will undoubtedly achieve victory on this religious and spiritual front, just as Ukraine will in this war."

The OCU head acknowledged that there has been some communication between the churches at lower levels, but blamed the lack of progress for formal negotiation on UOC leadership. "There are certain initiatives, there is communication at lower levels, but when it reaches the top, it is completely blocked by the leadership of the Moscow Patriarchate in Ukraine," Dumenko said.

Since the Council of Feofania in May of 2022, the UOC has not been administratively connected to the Moscow Patriarchate.

Prospects for dialogue remain uncertain, as Dumenko closed his remarks by commending the state for adopting a law which attempts to dissolve the Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC.

Previously the UOJ reported how, in Dashkivtsi, a UOC church was seized.