Heads of OCU and Finnish Orthodox Church hold joint meeting in Kyiv

The head of the OCU, Epifaniy Dumenko, met with the Primate of the Autonomous Finnish Orthodox Church of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Archbishop Iliyas of Helsinki and All Finland. During the meeting, which took place on October 1, 2025, the parties discussed key issues of interchurch relations, the situation in world Orthodoxy, and expressed mutual support in the context of the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine.

According to the press service of the OCU, the meeting took place at Dumenko’s residence after joint religious events. The meeting was also attended by the head of the OCU press service, Yevstratiy Zorya, the rector of the parish of Joensuu (Finland), Archpriest Alexander Roschenko, and the theological advisor to the Primate of the FOC, Elisha Heikkilä.

During the meeting, the parties «discussed in detail the areas of possible cooperation, ways to support Ukrainian refugees who have found refuge in Finland, and other topical issues of mutual interest.»

Earlier, we reported that the planned visit of the head of the OCU, Epiphany Dumenko, to the Holy Mount Athos, organized with the support of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, provoked serious disagreements and protests among the Athonite monks. The main reason for the discontent is the situation with the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church and its believers in Ukraine.