Expert on Blinken-OCU meeting: Epiphany is a politician in the eyes of US
Dmitry Dzhangirov said the meeting between the US Secretary of State and Epiphany Dumenko is symbolic and shows the attitude of Americans towards the head of the OCU.
Journalist Dmitry Dzhangirov believes that in the United States, the head of the OCU, Sergei (Epiphany) Dumenko, is perceived as a politician, this being once again proved by his meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
“This is a short-term, symbolic visit, which shows that the OCU is in many ways an American project,” Dzhangirov said in a comment to the UOJ. "This proves once again that Dumenko is a politician or an official for the Americans."
The journalist also stressed that their meeting was symbolic than substantive.
“Of course, it is unethical and illegal for an official of a foreign state to meet with the head of a religious organization, but the meeting hardly discussed any specific things, it’s just ‘symbolic’ ,” he added.
When asked whether this situation would lead to a new wave of seizures of the UOC churches, Dzhangirov said that everything depends on President Vladimir Zelensky.
“The OCU is a small church, considering Filaret’s exit, so their only hope is pinned to administrative resources. There are hardly any odds that Blinken will give a ‘take them’ command during his first visit, although in the future this might be the case,” the expert said.
On May 6, 2021, the US Secretary of State, who is on a two-day official visit to Ukraine, visited the St. Michael Cathedral of the OCU in Kyiv, where he spoke with Epiphany Dumenko.
