"Unification Council" elects "Metropolitan" Epiphany as head of OCU
"Metropolitan" Epiphany has become the head of the OCU
The “Unification Council” after two rounds of voting has elected "Metropolitan" Epiphany (UOC KP) as the head of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine.
"Bishop" Epiphany of the UOC KP was elected the head of the autocephalous Church. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko announced the creation of the "Ukrainian local Orthodox autocephalous church" and introduced the new primate as the “Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine” to the assembled in Sophia’s Square.
“This day will go down in history as the day of the creation of the autocephalous Orthodox Church in Ukraine ...> This is the day of the creation of the Church as an independent structure. ...> What is this Church like? This is a church without Putin. This is the Church without Kirill, without a prayer for the Russian authorities and the Russian army,” Poroshenko said.
The 39-year-old "Metropolitan" Epiphany of Pereyaslav and Belaya Tserkov is close to the schismatics’ head Filaret and is his vicegerent. Thus, Epiphany will receive the Tomos from Patriarch Bartholomew.
Earlier, the Holy Synod of the UOC decided to consider the "Unification Council" an illegal assembly.
Read also
Orthodox and Catholic bishops make joint visit to Mount Athos
The head of the Phanar blessed a joint pilgrimage to Mount Athos by Roman Catholic and Orthodox bishops.
UOC Kryvyi Rih Eparchy marks 30th anniversary
Metropolitan Yefrem led the anniversary Divine Liturgy in Kryvyi Rih.
Ostapenko: Everyone in UCCRO feels fine except the “FSB UOC”
The director of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve called the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches “a wonderful organization.”
Khmelnytskyi Eparchy donates funds for treatment of 12-year-old girl
UOC believers raised UAH 20,000 for Anastasiia Mamchur as part of an eparchial charity campaign.
Shevchuk: We had to convince world UOC ban does not violate religious freedom
The UGCC head claims that by banning the UOC, the state is not violating religious freedom but merely protecting the Church’s faithful from Moscow propaganda.
Lavra reserve head estimates damage to Dormition Cathedral at €15 million
Maksym Ostapenko said restoring the Dormition Cathedral would take at least a couple of years and require major funding.