Head of OCU discusses importance of Tomos of autocephaly with Ukrainian Foreign Minister

The head of the OCU, Epiphany Dumenko, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andriy Sybiga. During the conversation, which took place in the Metropolitan House on February 3, 2026, the parties discussed the key role of the OCU «as the spiritual pillar of Ukrainian society» and the significance of the Tomos of autocephaly as a symbol of the country’s spiritual independence.

According to the official portal of the OCU, at the beginning of the conversation, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga congratulated Epifaniy Dumenko on the seventh anniversary of his enthronement and birthday. The central topic of the talks was the role of the OCU «as an important spiritual pillar of society.» The participants of the meeting emphasized that «the spiritual support and unity provided by the OCU are critical to preserving the morale of the nation during the most difficult times.»

The parties also discussed in detail the significance of the Tomos of autocephaly of the OCU. It was emphasized that this document is «not just a church act, but also a powerful symbol of the spiritual independence of the Ukrainian people,» which today is as fundamental as state sovereignty.

Earlier, the official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova , said that the OCU was involved in a large-scale fraudulent scheme involving the illegal export of cultural property abroad. Zakharova, at a briefing in Moscow on February 4, noted that under the guise of a «temporary transfer» artifacts are transported to Poland and then to other EU countries.