A hierarch of the Greek Orthodox Church expressed support for the OCU

From July 14 to 17, 2026, a delegation from the World Council of Churches (WCC) made a solidarity visit to Ukraine. The delegation included Metropolitan Gabriel of Nea-Ionia, who represented the Greek Orthodox Church and expressed support for Epiphanius Dumenko, head of the OCU. The mission was timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations and was intended to express support for the Ukrainian people amid the ongoing war. This was reported by Orthodox Times.

During meetings in Kyiv, the delegation held talks with OCU Primate Epiphanius Dumenko. The parties discussed the consequences of the war, including the deaths of civilians and extensive damage to churches, among them the Assumption Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Metropolitan Gabriel conveyed words of fraternal support on behalf of Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, reaffirming their commitment to praying for the restoration of peace and justice.

As part of the mission’s program, a dialogue also took place with representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, specifically with Metropolitan Meletios of Chernivtsi and Bukovina. During the meeting, they discussed the current challenges facing church life, as well as the UOC’s position regarding the severing of administrative ties with the Moscow Patriarchate.

As a reminder, we previously reported that Archbishop Zenon of Dmanisi and Agarak-Tashir of the Georgian Orthodox Church sent a letter of support to OCU Head Epiphanius Dumenko following reports of a fire at the Assumption Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, which occurred as a result of the shelling of Kyiv by Russian troops. In his message, he emphasized the significance of the Lavra as a holy site not only for Ukraine but also for the entire Orthodox world.