Head of OCU Epiphany Dumenko arrives at Holy Mount Athos

on October 10, 2025, the head of the OCU, Epiphany Dumenko, arrived at the Holy Mount Athos. It is reported that upon arrival at Mount Athos, Dumenko was accompanied by the representative of the Patriarch of Constantinople, Metropolitan Apostle of Miletus and the civil administrator of the Holy Mountain, Alkiviadis Stephanis. During his visit, the head of the OCU, first of all, visited the Iveron Monastery, where he was received by the clergy of the monastery. This is reported by the Orthodox Times.

It is reported that Dumenko met with the abbot of the New Esphigmenou Monastery, Archimandrite Bartholomew. Addressing the head of the OCU, the archimandrite recalled the spiritual ties between the monastery and Ukraine, mentioning St. Anthony of the Caves, the ascetic of Esphigmenou and the founder of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. «We feel a spiritual kinship with the struggle of the pious Ukrainian people and the Autocephalous Church of Ukraine,» Archimandrite Bartholomew emphasized. He also expressed support for the autocephaly granted by the Ecumenical Patriarch and condemned the Russian invasion: «We are constantly praying for an end to this unholy war.»

Earlier, we reported that the upcoming visit of the head of the OCU, Epiphany Dumenko, to the Holy Mount Athos caused serious tension and discontent among most monastic communities.