Will Jerusalem recognize the OCU?

Patriarch Theophilus and Patriarch Bartholomew. A photo: orthodoxtimes.com

As we remember, the diptychs of the Phanar contain the name of the head of the OCU Epiphany Dumenko. Therefore, it is most likely that the arrival of Patriarch Bartholomew to Jerusalem will force the Primate of the Jerusalem Church to raise the issue of commemorating Sergei (Epiphany) Dumenko during the service. Indeed, if Dumenko is named together with all the other Primates of the Local Churches, then de facto this can be regarded as a recognition on the part of the Jerusalem Patriarchate.

Therefore, the question arises: what are the possible scenarios in the event of Bartholomew's arrival in Jerusalem?

There are, by and large, only two of them:

1. The heads of the Churches of Jerusalem and Istanbul will agree that the name of Dumenko in Jerusalem will not be spoken out for the ecclesiastical world.

2. Patriarch Theophilos will not celebrate a joint Liturgy with Patriarch Bartholomew, sending one of his representatives to serve.

But these scenarios can hardly be called a way out.

One thing is certain. The Phanar's actions to legalize the Ukrainian schism, in fact, split Orthodoxy and made each joint liturgy of hierarchs perceived through the prism of politics. Now both the memory of a saint and prayer are just a background. The whole world will listen hard to whether Epiphany Dumenko’s name will be read in Jerusalem.

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