Epifaniy called the Ecumenical Patriarch after being elected head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine
By 112 Agency
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew congratulated and blessed celebrant of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine Epifaniy (Dumenko), reported Press Secretary of Ukraine’s Orthodox Church of Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC KP) archbishop Eustratiy(Zoria).
He also added a link to the message “BBC news Ukraine” about a telephone conversation between Patriarch Bartholomew and Metropolitan Epifaniy.
‘Some time ago, Epifaniy phoned Bartholomew to inform about the election and asked for a blessing, he blessed him and congratulated,’ reads the message.
It means that the Ecumenical Patriarchate recognizes the Unification Assembly, in the downtown of Kyiv.
On December 15, the Unification Assembly in Kyiv elected the head of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, Metropolitan of the former UOC-KP Epiphanius (Dumenko). On the same day, the archbishops adopted the charter of the new church.
Almost all hierarchy of former UOC of Kyiv Patriarchate, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church and two archbishops of UOC MP took part in the assembly.
The next step for the final formation of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church in Ukraine will be a joint service of Epifaniy with Ecumenical Patriarch and receive of Tomos about the Autocephaly.
