UGCC calls on the head of Phanar to take Dumenko with him to the Pope
Uniate Ivan Datsko believes the participation of Sergei Dumenko in Pat. Bartholomew's delegation at a meeting with the pontiff will help the recognition of the OCU.
Ivan Datsko, a priest of the UGCC and president of the Institute of Ecumenical Studies of the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU), invited Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople to take Epiphany Dumenko to his next meeting with Pope Francis at an ecumenical conference in Kyiv with the participation of OCU representatives.
In his opinion, Dumenko's participation in the delegation will promote the recognition of the OCU by the hierarchs of the Roman Catholic Church. Datsko called on the representative of the OCU Georgy Kovalenko to address the head of Phanar with this initiative. "I believe, Father Georgy, that you want to reassure those unfortunate monsignors, prelates, members of the curia – ask Patriarch Bartholomew to take your first hierarch to the pope," Datsko said. In response to the words of the Uniate, Kovalenko noted that Bishop Mikhail Komansky (Anishchenko), the Exarch of Constantinople to Ukraine, is currently at the ecumenical conference and should be asked to submit this proposal on behalf of the UGCC. Addressing Phanar’s Exarch, Datsko said, "And let him (Patriarch Bartholomew – Ed.) not fear that the pope will hit him on the head with the St. Peter’s key."
As the UOJ reported, the theologian of the UGCC believes that unless the Greek Catholics unite with the OCU now, it will be a great sin.
