Dumenko accepts former UOC cleric who deviated into schism

On April 8, 2025, the head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), Epiphany Dumenko, received the rector of the Cross Exaltation Church in Kalynivka village, Zhytomyr region, former UOC priest Vadym Hvozdyi, along with his family and the parish warden. This was reported on the official website of the OCU.

The cleric, together with his congregation, made the decision to join the OCU, “following the Tomos of Autocephaly,” as stated in the publication.

During the meeting, Dumenko welcomed the new supporters of the OCU, handed priest Vadym the “appropriate documents, antimension, personalized epitrachelion, and a service book in Ukrainian.”

Earlier, we reported that on April 3, 2025, the head of the OCU, Epiphany Dumenko, met with the ambassador of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta in Ukraine, Antonio Gazzanti Puleze di Cotrone. During the event, several issues related to cooperation between the OCU and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta were discussed. Additionally, Dumenko urged the ambassador of the Order of Malta to influence European countries to strengthen support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.