"But the time will come": Dumenko "temporarily tolerates" UOC in Ukraine

Sergey Dumenko (left). Photo: a screenshot of the YouTube channel "Priamyi"

The head of the OCU, Sergey (Epiphany) Dumenko, said in his interview with "Priamyi" that his structure only "for the time being tolerates" the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church.  

According to Sergey Dumenko, "Ukraine is the canonical territory of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine". He is sure that the UOC "is here temporarily", and the Phanar has already determined the status of the UOC.

Dumenko expressed the hope that Patriarch Bartholomew will visit Ukraine in 2021 and meet with representatives of the OCU. Dumenko said that the visit of the head of the Phanar will take place "both at the state and the church level". And this visit, according to Dumenko, testifies that “Ukraine is the canonical territory of the OCU because, at the invitation of the President, the Ecumenical Patriarch arrives at the territory of the recognized OCU."

Sergey Dumenko also commented on the attitude towards the UOC (which he calls the Russian Orthodox Church).

“Their status has already been determined by the Ecumenical Patriarch. We tolerate them until a certain time, but the time will come when they join the recognized autocephalous Orthodox Church, and we will make up the already unified recognized Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” Dumenko believes.

As reported earlier, Patriarch Bartholomew "temporarily tolerates" the bishops of the UOC in Ukraine.

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