UOC parish rector joins OCU after detention by recruitment officers – media
Archimandrite Epifaniy (Rudenko) reportedly agreed to join the OCU in exchange for his release from a Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center.
Archimandrite Epifaniy (Rudenko), rector of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos Church of the UOC in the village of Khmelna, Cherkasy Region, has joined the OCU. According to the Pershyi Kozatskyi Telegram channel, the clergyman made the decision after being detained by officers of a Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center (TRC).
The Cherkasy Diocese of the OCU described the event as the unanimous and voluntary decision of the parish community. However, according to the report, the rector changed jurisdictions only after coming under significant pressure while being held at the TRC.
The archimandrite reportedly agreed to enter the structure headed by Epifaniy Dumenko in order to secure his release. The incident has been described as a profound tragedy, with commentators stressing that the decision was made under duress rather than freely.
As the UOJ previously reported, Greek media highlighted cases of the forced mobilization of UOC clergy.
