The head of the OCU, Epiphany Dumenko, said that the UOC declared its independent status only in order to “avoid the law designed to rename them.” He stated this on the air of the only telethon, Liga.net reports.
“Unfortunately, they did not resume relations with the ecumenical patriarch, but on the contrary, confirmed all previous decisions. De facto, the connection with Moscow remains, and de jure they have a desire to avoid a law designed to rename them,” Epifaniy said.