Head of OCU arrives at Phanar to celebrate 7th anniversary of Tomos of autocephaly

The head of the OCU, Epiphany Dumenko, arrived in Istanbul to celebrate the seventh anniversary of the granting of the Tomos of autocephaly. In his post on social media, he called this event «a decisive milestone in the modern spiritual history of Ukraine.» The head of the OCU emphasized that the Tomos was a sign of the maturity of Ukrainian Orthodoxy and a new era of service in freedom and unity. Dumenko wrote about this on his Facebook account.

«7 years ago, a step was taken that defined a new stage in the spiritual life of Ukraine. The signature of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew under the Tomos of autocephaly testified to the restoration of church dignity after many centuries of dependence, even hostile oppression. It was a moment of deep inner excitement and joy, when historical justice began to take shape. The Tomos became a sign of the maturity of Ukrainian Orthodoxy and its readiness to take responsibility for its path. The Ukrainian Church has received not only proper canonical recognition, but also new inspiration and opportunities to be especially open to its people, to speak with them in the same language of faith, hope and love,» Dumenko wrote.

In addition, as part of the celebration of the seventh anniversary of the bestowal of the Tomos, Dumenko confirmed the information that appeared earlier that in the coming days he would hold joint religious events with Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople at Phanar.

«On the occasion of the 7th anniversary of the Tomos of autocephaly, I arrived at the Ecumenical Patriarchate with the delegation of the OCU to testify here in communion, prayer and the joint Eucharist once again to our gratitude to God, our gratitude to the Mother Church and personally to His All-Holiness for the benefits that our Local Church has received and continues to receive through the affirmation of its status as a free and autocephalous Church. In these festive days, we ask here in Tsargrad, in the sacred center of Orthodoxy, for the victory of truth and peace for Ukraine and the establishment of the one Local Church. God bless!» Dumenko concluded.

Earlier, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople refuted the accusations against the Church of Constantinople, calling them «deception and deliberate distortion of the truth.» In his address, he emphasized the historical conditionality of the primacy of Constantinople and warned against attempts to destroy sacred traditions.