Kiev, December 15, Interfax – Epiphany Dumenko has been elected as the leader of the “local Orthodox Church and Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine,” Culture Minister Yevgeny Nishchuk announced from the stage on the square in front of the St. Sophia Cathedral on Saturday.
His announcement was made as President Pyotr Poroshenko, Verkhovnaya Rada Speaker Andrey Parubiy and the Ecumenical Patriarch’s representative Metropolitan Emmanuel of France were leaving the cathedral to the sound of its belfry.
Poroshenko announced the creation of the “Ukrainian local Orthodox autocephalous church” to the assembled.
“Congratulations everyone on the creation of the Ukrainian local autocephalous Orthodox church, which has just taken place at Saint Sophia’s [Cathedral] ,” he said.