Schismatic Dumenko received as primate and leads prayers in Georgian cathedral in London

London, July 11, 2022

    

At the invitation of the local hierarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church, the head of the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” visited the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ in London during a recent trip to England, the OCU reports.

The so-called “Metropolitan” Epiphany Dumenko was welcomed to the cathedral by Archbishop Zenon of Dmanisi and Agarak-Tashiri, one of a handful of Georgian bishops who has openly called for recognition of the schismatic OCU. The Georgian Synod, however, has not entered into communion with them.

Although his Church doesn’t recognize the OCU or Dumenko as Orthodox, Abp. Zenon praised him as a primate of a Local Church: “I believe that this day will go down in history, Your Beatitude is the second primate of a Local Church after Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia to visit our church. It’s a great honor and joy for us!”

And with the blessing of the Georgian hierarch, Dumenko vested and led prayers in the cathedral for victory and peace for Ukraine, and for the Ukrainian army and people. Many years was also proclaimed to Dumenko and His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia of Georgia.

Dumenko was in England to participate in the International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief (July 5-6), to which he was invited by the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs, despite the fact that his church actively persecutes the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

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7/11/2022

See also
Canonical Ukrainian priest: Dialogue with the OCU is possible with repentance Canonical Ukrainian priest: Dialogue with the OCU is possible with repentance Canonical Ukrainian priest: Dialogue with the OCU is possible with repentance Canonical Ukrainian priest: Dialogue with the OCU is possible with repentance
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Comments
Rdr Daniel7/13/2022 10:34 pm
Dear Yiannis, The practice of receiving latins through vesting whilst it has at times been the practice of Moscow (though it is not to my knowledge current practice and is condemned by ROCOR) is not canonical they should be chrismated (nowadays given papal baptisms first baptized) and later ordained. The difference between the Ukrainian schimatics and Rome is at lest the later has a formal claim to Apostolic succession in their ordinations. The UAOC had no valid apostolic succession and no valid ordinations; you or I may as well ordain random men as bishops. The UOC-KP had valid ordinations from the bishops who left with Fileret but those he ordained since are not as he had been defrocked and anathematized by then. The so called OCU is a merger of the two hence most of its clergy are canonically laymen. Finally even if a bishop were found amongst them who has been valid ordained Constantinople has no ability to rehabilitate clergy outside its Patriarchate. Also Epiphanios is not recognized by much of the Church. Only by Constantinople, Alexandria and Greece. Cyprus formally does so but about half the Metropolitans will cease commorating their Archbishop should he actually serve with him. Every other Autochepholos church not withstanding a few wayward bishops in the midst such as the often rebellious Abp. Zenon above do not recognize him or his schismatic group.
Antiochene Son7/13/2022 1:58 am
Alexander: The whole Georgian Church doesn't become schismatic because of the actions of one bishop.
James7/12/2022 9:37 pm
Steve: Comparing the situation of ROCOR to the OCU is like comparing a wife who separated from her husband because he was in prison, meanwhile ever longing to be reunited with him once he's free and rehabilitated, and a wife who left her husband because she wanted to be with another man, and has no intention of asking her lawful husband's forgiveness. The first is ROCOR, the second is OCU. There are issues here that go beyond technicalities. Anyone who doesn't see them simply doesn't want to see them.
Steve7/12/2022 8:30 pm
People have often made the argument that ROCOR was never actually schismatic before the reunion with Moscow, because ROCOR maintained communion with the Serbian Orthodox Church. Just try using that same logic in defense of the OCU.
Alexander Leitner7/12/2022 10:34 am
Now also the georgian Church is schismatic! Shame on them.
Yiannis7/11/2022 11:36 pm
If the Russian practice of vesting clergy from other denominations stands, why is it absurd to for the Patriarch of Constantinople to rehabilitate and affirm the vocation of Met. Epiphanios? I get the complaints over the canonical jurisdiction situation, I do, but he’s not schismatic if he’s recognized by much of the Church outside of Moscow and Antioch.
Alex7/11/2022 8:42 pm
Well now...this Georgian bishop just opened a BIG can of worms!
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