Archimandrite Ephraim does not recognize Epiphany as a Church primate
The quotes of the Ukrainian media about the alleged congratulations of Athonite elder Archimandrite Ephraim to Epiphany turned out a fake.
During the visit of Epiphany Dumenko to the clinic to Archimandrite Ephraim on February 2, the abbot of the Vatopedi monastery did not pronounce any congratulations, nor did he recognize Dumenko as a primate of the Church. It is reported by the "Tsargrad" publication with reference to its own sources.
Recall, many Ukrainian media, in particular the "Levyi Bereg" ("Left Bank") publication, stated that Archimandrite Ephraim, during his meeting with Epiphany, "congratulated the Kiev Metropolitan on his election and enthronement to be held on February 3 and wished him successful service as the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine."
According to the sources of Tsargrad, the content of the conversation was completely different – Epiphany just wished Archimandrite Ephraim to recover, for which the abbot of the Vatopedi monastery thanked the visitor. As for all the statements and congratulations voiced by the Ukrainian media, which had been purportedly made by the elder Ephraim, they are nothing more than speculations and fibs.
Recall, the governor of the Vatopedi monastery arrived in Kiev as part of the delegation of the Constantinople Patriarchate. On February 1, he was hospitalized due to the heart problems and was treated in a private clinic in Koncha Zaspa. According to the UOJ, representatives of the UOC tried to visit the Athonite elder but were not allowed to see the archimandrite by the SBU officers. As a result, the UOC hierarchs managed to contact Archimandrite Ephraim by phone. On February 2, Archimandrite Ephraim left Ukraine.
