Dumenko: OCU will only accept those who have not served the "Russian world"
The head of the OCU told the representative of the authorities that there can be no forced unification of confessions in Ukraine.
On December 15, 2022, the OCU head Epifaniy Domenko said that his structure is ready to accept only those clerics of the UOC who have not sullied themselves with their devotion to the ideology of the "Russian world," reports the official website of the OCU.
During a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olha Stefanishina, Dumenko said that Ukraine is a "democratic country".
"Therefore, by definition, we cannot have any forced unification of denominations. We are not a totalitarian Russia, where everything is done by force, by order, regardless of the thought and desire of the clergy and the faithful," the head of the OCU believes.
He noted that his structure "still" firmly stands "for the unity of the Orthodox around Kyiv’s Throne".
"However, such unity can only be voluntary and with those who have not tainted themselves with devotion to the criminal ideology of the 'Russian world,'" Dumenko said.
Earlier, the current metropolitan of the OCU, Oleksandr (Drabinko), stated that the concept of the "Russian world" belongs to him at its core and that he should be considered the creator of this ideology.
