Epiphanius, Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine. Archival photoKYIV, January 15 The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) Metropolitan Epiphanius was diagnosed with COVID-19, the press service of the OCU reported. In 2018, at the initiative of the former President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople through the merger of two schismatic organizations, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) was created. The new church received from Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople a tomos of autocephaly (deed of independence). The OCU was recognized by the First Hierarchs of the Churches of Alexandria and Greece, and in 2020 by the Primate of the Church of Cyprus. The ROC responded to the recognition of schismatics by breaking off relations with Constantinople and those primates and bishops in other local churches who accepted the Ukrainian schism. In connection with the recognition of the Ukrainian schismatics by the Patriarchate of Constantinople, pressure on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has increased significantly. (OCU) informs that on January 15, 2022, in the afternoon, His Beatitude Metropolitan Epiphanius received a confirmation of a positive test for coronavirus. Last year, the Primate of the OCU underwent a full course of vaccination,» the church's website reported. will be in self-isolation and outpatient treatment, over the next week will not perform worship and receive visitors.
