OCU hierarch takes part in celebration of St. Nicholas Day at UOC-KP Cathedral

OCU hierarch Oleksandr Drabinko took part in religious events at St. Volodymyr’s Cathedral of the UOC-KP. This event, which took place on December 18, 2025, caused a significant resonance given Drabinko’s past position on the non-canonicity of the UOC-KP and the current relations of the OCU with this structure.

According to the press service of the UOC-KP, Oleksandr Drabynko’s participation was «with the blessing of the patriarch.» However, this event is in sharp contradiction with the generally recognized position of the OCU, which, firstly, does not recognize the existence of the UOC-KP and considers all the «ordained» ministers there «non-canonical», and secondly, the events were held according to the old style, although the OCU has officially switched to the Gregorian calendar.

Drabinko himself has not yet commented on his presence in St. Volodymyr’s Cathedral on the eve of the feast day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (old style). It is noteworthy that the leadership of the OCU also did not express any opinion on this matter.

The day before, it became known that a cleric of the Poltava diocese of the OCU, Dmitry Pedina , announced his transfer to the UOC-KP. He motivated his decision by «spiritual beliefs, as well as the declared autonomy and social activity of the UOC-KP.»