“All the money goes to the army”: Dumenko explained why there is still no “OCU cell” on Mount Athos

The head of the OCU, Epiphanius Dumenko, tried to explain why the organization has not yet managed to build a “Ukrainian cell” on Mount Athos. Dumenko claims that the construction of the OCU cell on Athos is being delayed because the organization is spending all its funds on supporting the Ukrainian army. He spoke about this in an interview with TSN television.

«We want to rebuild a Ukrainian-speaking cell on Athos, where Ukrainians will be able to come and pray. We are collecting donations brick by brick, gathering this support, and gradually, step by step… Perhaps we would like to build it all at once, but this is not possible because during the war all resources are directed toward supporting the armed forces. However, Ukrainians are donating a small portion so that there will be a place on Mount Athos where prayers for Ukraine will be heard constantly,» — said Dumenko.

Earlier, we reported that the Pantokrator Monastery on Mount Athos, which had previously recognized the OCU, transferred the abandoned cell of the Holy Archangels to the organization, on the basis of which something similar to the OCU cell on Mount Athos was to be rebuilt. As previously reported, this small building was to consist of four rooms, a temple, a kitchen, a refectory, and a utility room.