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Epiphanius elected at the unity Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox churches.


© REUTERS, UNIAN
© REUTERS, UNIAN
© REUTERS, UNIAN
© REUTERS, UNIAN
© REUTERS, UNIAN
© REUTERS, UNIAN
© REUTERS, UNIAN
© REUTERS, UNIAN
© REUTERS, UNIAN
© REUTERS, UNIAN
© REUTERS, UNIAN
© REUTERS, UNIAN
© REUTERS, UNIAN

Unification Council 15 December 2018 elected head of the new unified Orthodox Church in Ukraine. It was Metropolitan of bila Tserkva and Pereyaslav Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyiv Patriarchate, rector and Professor of biblical and philological disciplines of the Kyiv Orthodox theological Academy of the Epiphany. 6 January 2019, the head of the newly formed United Church along with the President will fly to Istanbul, where Bartholomew will be awarded by the Tomos of autocephaly — the process of obtaining Church independence to be completed.

Writes Gromadska, Metropolitan Epiphanios is the “right hand” of Filaret in the Church administration of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate. According to the Church standards, he is young — 39 years. In the world — Sergei Dumenko, he was born in the village of Volkovo in the Ivanovo district of Odessa region in the family of workers. He studied at the Kiev Seminary and the Kiev theological Academy. Epiphanius also studied at the University of Athens in philosophy.

Read tachymetabolic of the UOC-KP Epiphanius was elected Primate of unified local Orthodox Church in Ukraine (photo)

Mentor Epiphanius was Archbishop and Ostrog, Rivne UOC-KP Daniel.

“The desire to become a monk arose during his studies in the Seminary. Knew it very seriously. Of course, it was scary. But while teaching in Rivne spiritual Seminary life took place – I definitely decided to become a monk. Great support was provided by Metropolitan Daniel (Chokaliuk), who was my spiritual mentor. Therefore, after training in Athens I took monastic vows in St. Michael’s Golden-domed monastery,” says Epiphany.

To deal with the Affairs of the UOC-KP began in 2008. After 5 years of Filaret by his order appointed Epiphanios Metropolitan, with the title “Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky and bila Tserkva”, and in 2017, he became Metropolitan of bila Tserkva and Pereyaslav.

Epiphany is a member of the National Union of journalists of Ukraine and the International Federation of journalists, as well as the rector of the Kyiv Orthodox theological Academy.

On the establishment of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Church of the Epiphany said in 2013. In one interview he noted that the Russian Orthodox Church to the UOC-KP received offers concerning the enterprises: “Yes, they are not suitable, because we do not want to be under the omophorion of the Moscow Patriarchate. We are not satisfied that we have Exarchate or Metropolia of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Because then there will be two reputable Ukrainian churches: the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Where, then, will present the Ukrainian Orthodox Church? Then there will be the Ukrainian Church. And the Church will be a different submission. So we have to create a Local Ukrainian Orthodox Church”.

“The advantage of Epiphany is the fact that he is well aware of the administrative component the development of the Church— explains the religious scholar Yurii Chornomorets. Besides, the Metropolitan has a very mild nature and knows the Greek language, which theoretically would allow for direct negotiations with the Ecumenical Patriarchate”.

The role of the new Primate of the Ukrainian Church also claimed the Metropolitan Lutsky and the Volynsk Mikhail from the UOC-KP. From the UOC MP candidate was Metropolitan Symeon of Vinnytsia and bar. Patriarch put forward candidates — the head of the Metropolitan Macarius recused himself. Macarius said that the Ecumenical Patriarchate had asked him and the head of the UOC-KP Filaret not to run for the presidency of the new Ukrainian Church.

To the Unification Council also approved the Charter of the new Church. Thousands of people came to St. Sophia square to take part in the event.

Read takharestan new Ukrainian Church will have the title of Metropolitan of Kiev – media

On 11 October, the Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate supported the renewal of the granting of autocephaly of Ukraine and formally approved that the mother Church of Ukraine is Constantinople. The Synod also nullified the anathemas of the head of the UOC-KP Filaret and the Primate of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Macarius.

October 15, the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in Minsk decided to break off relations with Constantinople. Constantinople, for its part, refused to break off relations with the ROC.

The local Church is the unification of all Orthodox believers, which is created according to the territorial principle. The local Church stands in contrast to the universal, becomes independent and self-governing territory of a particular state and is usually consistent with the political-administrative divisions and national borders.

The Autocephalous Church is called the Orthodox Church in Ukraine.