"A pig and a rotten egg": UOC-KP hierarch criticizes head of OCU

The hierarch of the UOC-KP, Joasaph Shibaev, made a harsh statement against the head of the OCU, Epiphany, and the structure he leads. In his address, published on the telegram channel “For the Ukrainian Church,” Shibaev accused the head of the OCU of usurping power, lying and “leading the church along the path of modernism to please external forces.”

The hierarch recalled that at the “Unification Council” in 2018, consent to the election of Epiphany was given only on the condition that Filaret would lead the OCU for life. According to him, this condition was a guarantee of the preservation of Orthodox doctrine, but it was not fulfilled, and Filaret himself was illegally removed from the possibility of running for the post of “primate” at the request of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

“I wonder if every sane person is disturbed by the fact that this former pig farmer, a round ignoramus, has girded himself to such an extent that he reminds the Elder Patriarch, who questioned his relationship with the bishops, pushing for his election, of humility and obedience to the ‘fullness of the church’? The egg, and a rotten one at that, teaches the chicken, according to an apt folk proverb! Lies and lies and lies and lies! The bishops, at their numerous meetings and at the Council of Bishops, agreed, not without difficulty, to elect Epiphany as primate only on condition that the Patriarch would lead the Church until his death,” Shibaev said.

In addition, the statement claims that the OCU has not received true autocephaly and has become a “satellite of the Greek Church,” and its primate is a “puppet” in the hands of Constantinople. He also accused the leadership of the OCU of following “the path of destruction,” mentioning the introduction of a new calendar style, the abolition of the Peter’s Fast and changes in worship. According to Metropolitan Joasaph, this is only the beginning, which may be followed by the recognition of clergy polygamy and the wedding of same-sex couples.

“The OCU has become a satellite of the Greek Church. Fulfilling the wishes of its overseas master, it has openly embarked on the path of modernism. The introduction of a new style, the abolition of the Peter’s Fast, the ugly tearing up of the Liturgy is only the beginning of this path of destruction. For that owner openly acts with contempt for the Canons of the Church. And you, who voluntarily got on his hook, will not get off it. And you will introduce polygamy of the clergy, and the wedding of same-sex couples, and the female priesthood… it’s only a matter of time,” he added.

As reported, on November 5, 2025, a meeting was held in Kyiv between the head of the OCU Epiphany Dumenko and the leader of the UOC-KP Filaret Denisenko. During the conversation, the hierarchs discussed Filaret’s many years of ministry and the importance of unity, concluding the conversation with a joint prayer for the victory of Ukraine.