Met. Seraphim of Kythira: Creation of new Ukrainian church undermines unity of Orthodox Church

Kythira, Greece, December 25, 2018

Photo: news.church.ua Photo: news.church.ua
    

The creation of Ukraine’s new nationalist church on Saturday, December 15 threatens the unity of the entire Orthodox Church and can only be fixed by the Holy Spirit through a pan-Orthodox council, His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythira and Antikythera believes.

Met. Seraphim touched upon the Ukrainian Church crisis in his Nativity epistle, published on Romfea. This is not the first time the Greek hierarch has publicly addressed the issue.

“Unfortunately, we recognize with deep sadness that the recent recognition of the autocephaly of Ukraine with its primate, a schismatic bishop until yesterday, unrecognized by the other Local Orthodox Churches, which recognize only the ignored canonical Metropolitan Onuphry and his Holy Synod, has created a significant canonical problem with innumerable consequences for the indissoluble unity of the holy Orthodox Church of Christ,” Met. Seraphim writes.

The Greek metropolitan also calls for a return to the canonical path via a pan-Orthodox Council and calls upon the Lord for His speedy aid.

“We humbly think that the return to sacred canonical order and to the canonical path will be achieved by the convocation in the Holy Spirit of a pan-Orthodox council. We nourish hope and send a fervent petition that the Divine Child might restore Divine peace to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as soon as possible, that the terrible schism might disappear and harmony and Divine love might reign in the much-suffering Ukrainian people,” Met. Seraphim entreated.

The prelate of Kythira also appealed to Patriarch Bartholomew in September, entreating him to cease his communication with the Ukrainian schismatics in order to avoid schism. Unfortunately, Pat. Bartholomew ignored this call, as he has the calls of several Synods, primates, and hierarchs.

Several other Greek hierarchs have also spoken out against Constantinople and the state of Ukraine’s interference in the life of the Ukrainian Church, including Metropolitans Seraphim of Piraeus and Ambrose of Kalavryta.

His Eminence Metropolitan Nektarios of Corfu, Paxoi, and the Diapontian Islands recently expressed sorrow and regret at what is happening in Ukraine.

The Greek Church is generally concerned about what is happening in Ukraine but the Holy Synod has as yet not discussed the matter.

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12/25/2018

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