Abbot of Ephraim of Vatopedi, arriving in Kiev on ultimatum, suffers heart attack

Kiev, February 1, 2019

    

The abbot of the Athonite Vatopedi Monastery, Archimandrite Ephraim, having arrived in Kiev to attend Sunday’s enthronement of “Metropolitan” Epiphany Dumenko of the Ukrainian nationalist church at the order Patriarch Bartholomew, was urgently hospitalized today after suffering a heart attack, reports Tsargrad.

According to information from their sources, doctors believe that Fr. Ephraim’s hospitalization could last indefinitely. Thus, his presence at the enthronement is highly unlikely.

The story has also been reported by the Greek site Romfea and the information has been confirmed for OrthoChristian by a source in a Church administrative position with direct contact with Vatopedi leadership, though there has been no official statement as of yet.

Archimandrite Ephraim has suffered heart attacks and has undergone a heart stent operation in the past.

It has also been reported by Maxim Pavlov of Kiev, an author for Pravoslavie.ru, also with reference to a reliable source with direct contact with Vatopedi, that Archimandrite Ephraim was given an ultimatum by Pat. Bartholomew to attend the enthronement or be suspended from clerical duties.

The Holy Community of Mt. Athos voted on January 28 not to send a delegation to the enthronement. Though 5 monasteries voted in favor of going, Vatopedi was not among them. Nevertheless, Pat. Bartholomew enlisted Fr. Ephraim and also Abbot Alexios of Xenophontos Monastery, who is attending the enthronement willingly.

Moreoever, Pavlov writes: “The motives for such an ‘attack’ from Bartholomew are understandable—to put the abbot, who has good relations with the Russian Orthodox Church, in the line of fire.”

In 2011, Abbot Ephraim brought Vatopedi’s most sacred relic, the Cincture of the Most Holy Theotokos, to Russia, where it was venerated by millions of Orthodox faithful.

When the abbot was arrested soon afterwards on financial charges, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia came to his defense, expressing his concern to then-Greek President Karolos Papoulias.

Fr. Ephraim visited Russia again in 2017, where he met with Orthodox faithful in Ekaterinburg and also met with President Putin.

Further, the abbot of Vatopedi has been vocal about his stance against the Ukrainian schismatics.

In March 2015, when His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine, the primate of the canonical Ukrainian Church, was visiting Mt. Athos, Fr. Ephraim stated: “With a heavy heart I am anxious about the present state of Ukraine and from Holy Mount Athos I am asking the Ukrainian people to remain faithful to the canonical Church, the canonical primate and the canonical Synod. We want Ukrainian residents to support the canonical Church. It is important for one’s salvation to obey the canonical Church.”

And in an address to the Ukrainian people in 2017, Fr. Ephraim noted that the issue affects all of Mt. Athos, saying the Holy Mountain is very grieved about the schism in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. According to the abbot, the schism cuts like scissors, and he who went into schism must understand that he is outside of the fold of the Church. “If someone is outside of the Church … he cannot attain holiness,” he said.

“Therefore, we entreat all of our brothers who have left the canonical Church, we appeal and we entreat that they would return to the womb of the canonical Orthodox Church,” the abbot said.

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2/1/2019

See also
Abbots of Vatopedi, Xenophontos Athonite Monasteries to attend enthronement of Ukrainian schismatic with Pat. Bartholomew Abbots of Vatopedi, Xenophontos Athonite Monasteries to attend enthronement of Ukrainian schismatic with Pat. Bartholomew Abbots of Vatopedi, Xenophontos Athonite Monasteries to attend enthronement of Ukrainian schismatic with Pat. Bartholomew Abbots of Vatopedi, Xenophontos Athonite Monasteries to attend enthronement of Ukrainian schismatic with Pat. Bartholomew
According to exclusive information from Constantinople, Pat. Bartholomew asked them to join his delegation to Kiev in order to mitigate the impression created by the Holy Mountain’s decision as a whole not to send a delegation.
Certain Athonite monasteries will close gates to Epiphany Dumenko; two abbots to reportedly join EP’s delegation to Epiphany’s enthronement Certain Athonite monasteries will close gates to Epiphany Dumenko; two abbots to reportedly join EP’s delegation to Epiphany’s enthronement Certain Athonite monasteries will close gates to Epiphany Dumenko; two abbots to reportedly join EP’s delegation to Epiphany’s enthronement Certain Athonite monasteries will close gates to Epiphany Dumenko; two abbots to reportedly join EP’s delegation to Epiphany’s enthronement
Documents published by the Greek site orthodoxia.info clarify that the request for an Athonite delegation came from Epiphany Dumenko himself (not directly from Patriarch Bartholomew) with the blessing of Pat. Bartholomew and was forwarded to the Holy Mountain from Constantinople.
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The Sacred Community of Mt. Athos resolved at an extraordinary session yesterday, January 28, to reject Patriarch Bartholomew’s request that they send a delegation to the enthronement of Constantinople’s schismatic Ukrainian primate, “Metropolitan” Epiphany Dumenko, in Kiev on February 3.
Mt. Athos divided over Ukraine issue, source says Mt. Athos divided over Ukraine issue, source says Mt. Athos divided over Ukraine issue, source says Mt. Athos divided over Ukraine issue, source says
Though many Athonite monks are “extremely negative” about the recent actions of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in Ukraine, there is no consensus on the Mountain.
Holy Mountain mourns the schism in the Ukrainian Church—abbot of Vatopedi Holy Mountain mourns the schism in the Ukrainian Church—abbot of Vatopedi Holy Mountain mourns the schism in the Ukrainian Church—abbot of Vatopedi Holy Mountain mourns the schism in the Ukrainian Church—abbot of Vatopedi
Mt. Athos is very grieved about the schism in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, created and continued by the self-styled “Patriarch” Philaret Denisenko of the unrecognized “Kiev Patriarchate.” Abbot Ephraim of the Athonite monastery of Vatopedi spoke about this trouble in an address to Ukrainians published on the YouTube channel of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Elder Ephraim of Vatopedi is asking the Ukrainian people to remain faithful to the canonical Church Elder Ephraim of Vatopedi is asking the Ukrainian people to remain faithful to the canonical Church Elder Ephraim of Vatopedi is asking the Ukrainian people to remain faithful to the canonical Church Elder Ephraim of Vatopedi is asking the Ukrainian people to remain faithful to the canonical Church
The elder shared his concern about the events in the Ukraine.

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