Dumenko: Orthodox Churches Have Not Rejected OCU’s Autocephaly

PRAGUE — Epiphany Dumenko, primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), has claimed that Orthodox Churches that have not formally recognized the OCU’s autocephaly do not deny its independence but are waiting for more favorable circumstances to establish official relations.

Speaking at the international Forum 2000 conference in Prague on Tuesday, Dumenko said some churches were awaiting the conclusion of the war in Ukraine and its outcome before taking further steps toward recognition. He argued that their position did not amount to rejecting the OCU’s autocephaly.

“There is no question of religion here – none of the Churches, except for the Moscow Patriarchate itself, severed relations with the Ecumenical Patriarchate after the granting of the Tomos on the autocephaly of the OCU,” Dumenko said. "This means they do not reject our autocephaly as such, but have certain conditions that must be met before they establish official communion with us.”

The OCU primate expressed confidence that additional Orthodox Churches would establish full relations with his jurisdiction once, as he put it, the influence and pressure of the Russian Orthodox Church on world Orthodoxy weakened.

Dumenko made the remarks during a panel discussion on religious freedom and authoritarianism at the 30th anniversary session of Forum 2000. He also criticized the "Russian world” ideology and highlighted the OCU’s humanitarian assistance and chaplaincy work amid the war.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Dumenko said the OCU chooses humility despite its right to judge the UOC.