Metropolitan Luke on the statement of the OCU Synod: "Dialogue is not an agreement to your terms"

In another address to the faithful, published by the hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Luke of Zaporizhzhia and Melitopol, the question of true unity and political manipulation in the church environment was raised in the context of the recent appeal of the Synod of the OCU to the UOC. The bishop criticizes the appeal of the head of the OCU Epiphany Dumenko, emphasizing that it begins with negativity and labeling, which contradicts the principles of Christian dialogue.

According to Metropolitan Luke, the title of the appeal — «Appeal to… the faithful who depend on the position of the Russian Patriarchate» — is a direct manipulation that turns the church issue into the plane of politics. Instead of the official name of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), a political marker is used, which devalues millions of believers who consider themselves free citizens of Ukraine and faithful children of the Orthodox Church. Such an approach, according to the bishop, is reminiscent of the times of church turmoil, when they tried to replace the truth with political interests.

The bishop also criticizes the ignoring of the name of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy in the address, which indicates a lack of desire to see the UOC as equal interlocutors. In addition, he reminds us that overcoming the split should take place through repentance and restoration of canonical purity, not through adaptation to the political situation. Examples from history, such as the Union of Florence, show that unity imposed from above does not bring peace, but only creates new suffering.

In conclusion, Metropolitan Luke emphasized that the UOC does not reject dialogue, but it must be based on equality, an end to violence against parishes, and the resolution of canonical issues in accordance with the centuries-old tradition of Orthodoxy. Only when lawlessness is a thing of the past and sincere repentance is brought, will the real path to dialogue begin.

As reported, on February 2, 2026, the Synod of the OCU issued an appeal to «Orthodox believers, clergy and hierarchs in Ukraine who depend on the position of the Russian Patriarchate» calling for a constructive dialogue to achieve the unity of the Church. The appeal emphasizes the need for the existence of a single autocephalous Orthodox Church in Ukraine, as defined by the Tomos of Autocephaly. In addition, the OCU announced the creation of a commission to conduct a dialogue with the UOC.