Simeon Shostatsky praises Dumenko for "liberating" Lavra from Moscow

Former UOC Metropolitan Simeon Shostatsky congratulates Dumenko. Photo: pomisna.info

Former Metropolitan of the UOC, Simeon Shostatsky, praised Epifaniy Dumenko for the "liberation" of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra from "Moscow's rule".

Congratulating Dumenko on the anniversary of his "enthronement" on behalf of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), Shostatsky stated that looking back at the path that the OCU took under Epifaniy, there have been "many important and significant events".

These events over the past 5 years include the visit of the head of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to Ukraine, the "establishment of relations" with other Local Churches (note that the OCU is recognized by only 4 Churches and not recognized by the remaining 10), as well as the "liberation of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra from Moscow's rule" and Epifaniy Dumenko's "service" in this monastery as the "sacred archimandrite".

Shostatsky also mentioned the "calendar reform", which, thanks to Dumenko's "wisdom and tactfulness", was "implemented peacefully and calmly".

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Ostapenko complained about the low attendance of the "services" of the OCU in the Lavra.

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