Former OCU cleric compares Dumenko to Metropolitan Onuphry

Serhiy Dumenko. Photo: Suspilne

Former cleric of the OCU Yaroslav Yasenets spoke about the measures taken by Epifaniy Dumenko to ensure his personal comfort and security.

“In the very first months of Epifaniy’s leadership, what do you think appeared before his office at the Theological Academy in the St. Michael’s Monastery? That’s right – armored doors,” Yasenets said.

He noted that security soon appeared in the luxurious residence Epifaniy had built for himself on the monastery grounds. According to Yasenets, these guards may have been provided by the state, since Epifaniy regularly receives diplomats and foreign representatives there.

“Getting an appointment with Epifaniy became nearly impossible. However, his doors were always open to politicians, state agents and cultural figures, representatives of international organizations, and other public personalities. Moreover, every such meeting was accompanied by vibrant photo reports. At one point, he was even jokingly called an unofficial employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (which, by the way, is located right across from St. Michael’s),” Yasenets remarked.

According to him, Epifaniy rarely celebrates church services, and when he visits parishes in Kyiv or other OCU dioceses, “he doesn’t communicate with the people.”

“He performs the service, sometimes hands out orders to state officials and benefactors, after which there’s a lunch in an expensive restaurant and, occasionally, participation in some government event. There’s no living contact with parishioners,” said the former OCU cleric.

In contrast, Yasenets cited the example of the UOC Primate, Metropolitan Onuphry:

“One can see how Metropolitan Onuphry (and I’ll refer to him several times today) always pauses before a public service to speak with people who come up for his blessing outside the church. At least outwardly, he shows care and attention toward them. Why the head of our so-called ‘open church’ cannot do the same is beyond understanding,” he stated.

Yasenets also commented on Epifaniy’s conduct at the beginning of the war. In his view, Epifaniy left Kyiv:

“His first wartime interview was given against a white wall in an unknown location. No one knows if he was even in Kyiv. He was not seen at the barricades built by the territorial defense forces, nor did he consider it necessary to visit and bless the soldiers face to face, as many Ukrainian priests did.”

Earlier, the UOJ reported that, according to Yasenets, the OCU ordains even those who do not know the Creed.

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