Greek Synod appoints two commissions to study Ukrainian issue

Athens, March 11, 2019

Photo: pravoslavie.by Photo: pravoslavie.by     

The permanent Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church met under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece from March 5-7, discussing various issues, including relations between the Church and state, and the Ukrainian crisis. As OrthoChristian previously reported, no final decision was made about whether or not to recognize the Ukrainian schismatic church.

The hierarchs of the Greek Church are still considering the issue and have authorized two Synodal commissions, on dogmatic and canonical issues, and on inter-Orthodoxy and inter-Christian relations, to study the issue more in-depth, reports Romfea.

The commissions will then submit their recommendations to the entire episcopate of the Greek Orthodox Church. The Holy Synod also previously resolved to pass the issue onto the Bishops’ Council, which includes all bishops of the Greek Church.

Patriarch Bartholomew sent a letter to Abp. Ieronymos in December, as he did to all primates, asking him to recognize the newly-created Ukrainian nationalist church and to begin commemorating “Metropolitan” Epiphany Dumenko at the Divine Liturgy. However, as orthodoxia.info notes, Abp. Ieronymos is not planning to sign a document of recognition, preferring instead a synodal decision.

As the Greek agency writes, given that two commissions have been charged with studying the Ukrainian issue, it is clear that all of the decisions of the Patriarchate of Constantinople will be considered, in terms of creating a new jurisdiction in Ukraine and in terms of the canonicity of the clergy of the so-called “Orthodox Church of Ukraine”—an issue that several Local Churches have expressed concern about.

Further, given the size of their tasks, the commissions most likely will not have time to draw up a conclusion and recommendation in the next two weeks before the hierarchy meets again. Thus, unless an extraordinary session is called, the decision will be postponed until October.

Follow us on Facebook!

3/11/2019

See also
Greek Church under pressure from political, economic, diplomatic fields to recognize Ukrainian schismatics Greek Church under pressure from political, economic, diplomatic fields to recognize Ukrainian schismatics Greek Church under pressure from political, economic, diplomatic fields to recognize Ukrainian schismatics Greek Church under pressure from political, economic, diplomatic fields to recognize Ukrainian schismatics
The Church has received and examined letters from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Patriarch Bartholomew, and the schismatic “Metropolitan” Epiphany Dumenko on the matter, but the bishops have yet to take a stance, despite the strong statements of individual hierarchs. About Good Doctor Aibolit and the Greek Orthodox Church About Good Doctor Aibolit and the Greek Orthodox Church
Priest Sergei Begiyan About Good Doctor Aibolit and the Greek Orthodox Church About Good Doctor Aibolit and the Greek Orthodox Church
Priest Sergei Begiyan
To understand that Patriarch Bartholomew is by no means a good doctor, that he pursues completely specific materialistic goals, we must forget for a while about the current conflict and recall another. We must remember the Greek Orthodox Church. Metropolis of Piraeus calls on Greek Holy Synod not to recognize Ukrainian schismatics Metropolis of Piraeus calls on Greek Holy Synod not to recognize Ukrainian schismatics Metropolis of Piraeus calls on Greek Holy Synod not to recognize Ukrainian schismatics Metropolis of Piraeus calls on Greek Holy Synod not to recognize Ukrainian schismatics
The Metropolis of Piraeus, headed by His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus, has called on the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church not to recognize the so-called “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” created by Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine on December 15.

Subscribe
to our mailing list

* indicates required
×