Head Of Ukraine's 'New Church' Says Ready For Dialogue With Canonical Orthodox Church
Faizan Hashmi Published December 21, 2018 | 03:04 PM
Epiphanius Dumenko, the head of autocephalous Ukrainian church, stated on Friday the need to engage in a dialogue with the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church and expressed his willingness to do so.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st December, 2018) Epiphanius Dumenko, the head of autocephalous Ukrainian church, stated on Friday the need to engage in a dialogue with the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church and expressed his willingness to do so.
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed concern at his annual press conference that Ukraine's "new church" might engage in a property redistribution with Ukraine's canonical Orthodox Church, warning that the process might have a "grave character." Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) has repeatedly reported about being oppressed by representatives of non-canonical religious structures in Ukraine, with about 40 cathedrals having been lost by the church in 2014-2016 alone.
"We have to engage in a dialogue ... We should have consensus, not feud. If they feel love, they would join the autocephalous church," Epiphanius said, as quoted by Ukraine's 1+1 tv channel.
Epiphanius also pointed out that Ukraine's so-called new church had about 7,000 parishes, and the number was expected to increase after church obtains tomos of autocephaly from Constantinople in early January.
On December 15, during a "unification council" that was held in Kiev, Epiphany Dumenko, metropolitan of Pereyaslavsky and Bila Tserkva of the non-canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kyiv Patriarchate, was elected head of the "new church." The UOC-MP refused to officially participate in this event.
The Moscow Patriarchate described the situation as the "legalization of schism," stressing that it would have catastrophic consequences and affect millions of Orthodox Christians in Ukraine and other countries. On Thursday, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill called on Orthdox churches around the world not to recognize the results of the so-called unification council.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
HEC reviews curricula for environmental sciences degree programme
ICC Asia looking forward to an action-packed Asia Cricket Week
Yuvraj Singh named ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Ambassador
Greece hands Olympic flame to 2024 Paris Games hosts
Two Kyiv hospitals evacuating over feared Russian strikes
World must act on neurotech revolution, say experts
Charles & Catherine's cancer diagnoses
Champions Alcaraz and Sabalenka through in Madrid Open
King Charles to resume some public duties during cancer treatment: palace
US defense chief announces $6 bn in security aid for Ukraine
Heavy rains cause damage to Spezand-Taftan railway track
Woman stabbed in Israel, attacker killed: police
More Stories From World
-
NFL will allow players to wear Guardian Cap helmets in games
4 hours ago -
Football: German Bundesliga table
4 hours ago -
Football: Italian Serie A result
4 hours ago -
Football: German Bundesliga results
4 hours ago -
US troops to leave Chad in second African state withdrawal
4 hours ago -
Plastics pollution may be solved without production cap: Canada minister
5 hours ago
-
Biden stalls on menthol cigarette ban fearing Black vote backlash
5 hours ago -
Champions Alcaraz and Sabalenka through in Madrid Open
5 hours ago -
6,000 French police to welcome Olympic torch amid bonus boost
5 hours ago -
Taiwan hit by several quakes, strongest reaching 6.1-magnitude
5 hours ago -
'Ballistic' Bairstow stars as Punjab pull off record T20 chase
5 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results - 2nd update
5 hours ago