Epiphany: Ukrainian Lavras are in spiritual occupation but they'll be OCU's
Holy Assumption Kiev Pechersk Lavra. Photo: kievtoyou.com
At a meeting in New York with members of the Ukrainian Institute of America and the Ukrainian Congress Committee in America, the head of the OCU, Epiphany Dumenko, stated that the Kiev Pechersk Lavra and other shrines of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are under temporary spiritual occupation. Dumenko announced this on his Facebook page.
In particular, answering the question of the meeting participants about if it is possible to hope that in the near future the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra will go under the omophorion of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Dumenko said, “All Ukrainian shrines belong to the Ukrainian people. Now both the Kiev Pechersk Lavra and other national shrines are temporarily under spiritual occupation, but we believe they will belong to the recognized local Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU – Ed.).”
According to him, "today it is difficult to say how this will happen." But Dumenko emphasized that “the Lord will create the appropriate conditions” under which “Ukrainian shrines will belong to the Ukrainian Church and, accordingly, to the Ukrainian people.”
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that "metropolitan" Epiphany Dumenko said that "soon we will serve together, all together" in the Lavra, adding “we would not expel anyone from there."
Read also
Greece signs memorandum on protection of Jerusalem Patriarchate's shrines
Next week, the Greek Parliament will ratify a document on the protection of the cultural heritage of the Jerusalem Patriarchate.
Greek bishop calls imposition of same-sex marriage a threat
Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythera urged families to become a “domestic church” amid threats to the Christian family in Greek laws and school curricula.
Patriarch Bartholomew arrives in Budapest for opening of Orthodox center
The Ecumenical Patriarch has arrived in Hungary, where he will preside over the consecration of the Orthodox center "Phanarion."
OCU raiders stage attack on seized church in Kyiv, media
OCU "hierarch" Serhiy Horobtsov published a provocative post online regarding St. John's Church in Bykivnia seized by his people.