Abbot of New Esphigmenou at the Lavra: the OCU is a "profound spiritual movement"
Athonite Archimandrite Bartholomew, attending a celebration at the Lavra, assured that the creation of the OCU is not a political act.
On July 10, 2026, an OCU "service" was held in the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, attended by the abbot of the Athonite monastery of New Esphigmenou, Archimandrite Bartholomew, along with several other monks.
In his address, Archimandrite Bartholomew declared that the creation of the "independent Church of Ukraine" is "not a political act" and "not merely an administrative change," but rather "a profound spiritual movement" and "a return to truth." The Athonite guest connected the history of the OCU to the name of St. Anthony, and called upon the faithful to "rally around the Lavra" and support Dumenko's structure.
At the same time, while denying the political nature of what was taking place, the Athonite abbot presented the head of the OCU with an episcopal staff — "as a symbol" of the bond with the Mother Church — and a copy of the icon of the Mother of God "Arsaniotissa." The choir was led by the Protopsaltis of the Phanar, Grigorios Darávanoглou.
The Archimandrite assured those present that "the entire Holy Mountain" supports the OCU.
"From every monastery, every skete and kellion of Athos, from every heart of an Athonite monk, a prayer ascends — for peace, for strengthening, for life," declared the abbot of New Esphigmenou.
As a reminder, the Athonite monastery of Esphigmenou, where, according to tradition, St. Anthony of the Caves took monastic vows, according to Archbishop Iona, "is currently under one of the Old Calendar jurisdictions and has no communion with the Ecumenical Patriarch." The hierarch noted that the brotherhood of this monastery numbers more than a hundred people, while the delegation that arrived in Kyiv represents a monastery of only a few individuals.
The UOJ previously reported that Athonite monks expressed protest over Dumenko's visit to the Holy Mountain.
