Dumenko Meets with Greek Delegation in Kyiv

On June 18, 2025, the head of the OCU, Epiphaniy Dumenko, received an official delegation of the Hellenic Republic at his residence. The delegation included Georgios Kalantzis, Secretary General for Religious Affairs of the Greek Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports; Pantelis Alexandros Dimitrakopoulos, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Greece to Ukraine; and Deputy Head of Mission Emmanouil Androulakis. This was reported by the OCU press service.

The meeting was also attended by Viktor Yelensky, head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience, and Yaroslav Romanchuk, rector of the Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy of the OCU.

“We are sincerely grateful for your solidarity and assistance. Special thanks go to His All-Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, for the historic decision to grant the Tomos of autocephaly. It was truly a prophetic step, especially in wartime, when the Church plays a vital role in the spiritual and moral support of the people. We also thank the Church of Greece for supporting this wise decision,” said Dumenko.

In turn, representatives of the Greek delegation emphasized that “the struggle of the Ukrainian people and the OCU for freedom and dignity is just, and all who share these values must not stand aside.”

Earlier, it was reported that on June 18, 2025, the High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine sentenced former head of the Ternopil Regional State Administration Mykhailo Holovko to nine years in prison with confiscation of property. While in office, Holovko actively opposed the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the region, threatening to “expel” the UOC from the Holy Dormition Pochaiv Lavra. He was found guilty of involvement in corruption schemes.