Epiphany Dumenko believes that the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church is hindering the recognition of the OCU by the Local Churches

Epiphany Dumenko, the head of the Ukrainian schism, stated that international recognition of the OCU’s autocephaly directly depends on a reduction in the influence and pressure exerted by the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). According to Dumenko, many religious organizations around the world are waiting for the outcome of the current war before formally establishing relations with the Ukrainian church.

According to the OCU’s press service, this statement was made during a discussion at the international “Forum 2000” in Prague. Dumenko emphasized that the issue of recognizing the OCU lies not so much in the theological realm as in the political and geopolitical ones.

“None of the Churches, except for the Moscow Patriarchate itself, has severed relations with the Ecumenical Patriarchate following the granting of the Tomos of Autocephaly to the OCU,” noted Epiphany. According to him, this indicates that most Local Churches do not deny the very fact of Ukrainian autocephaly, but are forced to take into account external circumstances and “pressure from Moscow.” He expressed confidence that “as the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church on global Orthodoxy weakens,” the process of full recognition of the OCU by other Churches will be completed.

As a reminder, we previously reported that the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church (PAOC) had once again reaffirmed its position regarding the need to resolve the ecclesiastical conflict related to the establishment of the OCU at a Pan-Orthodox Council.