Bishop who concelebrated with schismatics in Istanbul does not represent stance of Cypriot Church, metropolises say

Cyprus, December 3, 2019

Met. Vasilios of Constantia and Ammochostos of the Church of Cyprus is second from the left. Photo: Romfea Met. Vasilios of Constantia and Ammochostos of the Church of Cyprus is second from the left. Photo: Romfea     

As OrthoChristian reported yesterday, Metropolitan Vasilios of Constantia and Ammochostos of the Cypriot Orthodox Church concelebrated with Patriarchs Bartholomew of Constantinople and Theodoros of Alexandria and Evstraty Zorya of the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” on the feast of St. Andrew in Constantinople on November 30.

As a former member of the schismatic “Kiev Patriarchate,” headed by the defrocked, excommunicated, and anathematized Philaret Denisenko, Evstraty Zorya has never been canonically ordained.

The participation of Met. Vasilios is noteworthy in that the Holy Synod of the Cypriot Church has not decided to recognize the OCU, thus the Cypriot hierarch concelebrated with a “bishop” with whom he has no Eucharistic communion.

As has happened many times, schismatic and Constantinople-friendly media hailed Met. Vasilios’ participation as a step towards recognition by the Cypriot Church. Recall that Epiphany Dumenko, the head of the schismatic church, declared that the Greek Church de-facto recognized his OCU after one Greek hierarch concelebrated with schismatics in Ukraine. The Metropolis of Langadas was forced to refute his characterization, though Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens did later choose to recognize the schismatics.

Orthodox Times, formerly the English edition of Romfea, which openly works with the U.S. State Department, wrote in an article entitled, “Co-liturgy at the Phanar sends a message to Moscow,” that “the fact that one bishop from the Church of Cyprus, Metropolitan Vasilios of Constantia and Ammochostos, attended the commemoration was of particular importance.”

As Orthodox journalist Alexander Vosnesensky writes, Met. Vasilios is known in Cyprus as the most fervently pro-Constantinople hierarch.

Vosnesenky earlier personally reported from the Liturgy in Limassol where Pat. Theodoros of Alexandria commemorated Epiphany Dumenko despite the request of the local hierarch, His Eminence Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol.

The day after Met. Vasilios concelebrated with the schismatics, Vosnesensky contacted representatives of several Cypriot metropolitans who told him that the hierarchs hope that Met. Vasilios’ actions will be evaluated by the Holy Synod or by the primate, His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos.

The representatives also affirmed that Met. Vasilios’ actions in no way indicate the Cypriot Church’s move towards recognition of the schismatic OCU.

Three other Cypriot Metropolitans—Athanasios of Limassol, Nikephoros of Kykkos, and Neophytos of Morphou—have recently made statements in which they clearly reject the Ukrainian schismatics and recognize only the canonical Church under His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine.

A hierarch of the canonical Ukrainian Church, His Eminence Metropolitan Arseny of Svyatogorsk, led the Divine Liturgy on the feast of St. Andrew in Nicosia, Cyprus, on November 30.

A hierarch of the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, Bishop Isaiah (Slaninka) of Šumperk, also faces canonical penalties from his Church’s Holy Synod after recently concelebrating with schismatics in Ukraine.

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12/3/2019

See also
Metropolitan of Morphou: Cypriot Church sees Metropolitan Onuphry as only canonical hierarch in Kiev Metropolitan of Morphou: Cypriot Church sees Metropolitan Onuphry as only canonical hierarch in Kiev Metropolitan of Morphou: Cypriot Church sees Metropolitan Onuphry as only canonical hierarch in Kiev Metropolitan of Morphou: Cypriot Church sees Metropolitan Onuphry as only canonical hierarch in Kiev
His Eminence Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou addressed the Ukrainian issue recently, confirming that the Cypriot Church recognizes only His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine as the canonical primate in Ukraine.
“We must overcome impermissible egoism, stubbornness and lust for power” “We must overcome impermissible egoism, stubbornness and lust for power”
Met Nikiforos of Kykkos
“We must overcome impermissible egoism, stubbornness and lust for power” “We must overcome impermissible egoism, stubbornness and lust for power”
Met Nikiforos of Kykkos’ Speech to the Conference “Monasticism and the Contemporary World”
Metropolitan Nikiforos of Kykkos and Tellyria
Met. Nikiforos made the important point that in the current canonical crisis the Orthodox Church, monastics have the particular obligation not to keep silence, but apply all their strength and work toward a resolution.
Representatives of Constantinople, Alexandria, Cyprus, Ukrainian schismatics, and Vatican gather in Constantinople for feast of St. Andrew Representatives of Constantinople, Alexandria, Cyprus, Ukrainian schismatics, and Vatican gather in Constantinople for feast of St. Andrew Representatives of Constantinople, Alexandria, Cyprus, Ukrainian schismatics, and Vatican gather in Constantinople for feast of St. Andrew Representatives of Constantinople, Alexandria, Cyprus, Ukrainian schismatics, and Vatican gather in Constantinople for feast of St. Andrew
The Patriarchate of Constantinople celebrated its patronal feast on November 30, in honor of its founder St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle. Patriarch Bartholomew was joined by a number of hierarchs from the Patriarchate, Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria, and representative hierarchs from the Church of Cyprus, the Ukrainian schismatics, and the Roman Catholic church.
Met Athanasios of Limassol’s Full Interview About Ukraine Met Athanasios of Limassol’s Full Interview About Ukraine
Met. Athanasios of Limassol
Met Athanasios of Limassol’s Full Interview About Ukraine Met Athanasios of Limassol’s Full Interview About Ukraine
Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol
It’s a difficult question, and the answer causes a bit of pain, but we must tell things as they are, so there aren’t things left hanging, and there aren’t things that cause our brothers’ consciences to be scandalized.
Constantinople, Alexandria, Greece threaten schism in Church, Cypriot Metropolitan tells internat’l monastic conference Constantinople, Alexandria, Greece threaten schism in Church, Cypriot Metropolitan tells internat’l monastic conference Constantinople, Alexandria, Greece threaten schism in Church, Cypriot Metropolitan tells internat’l monastic conference Constantinople, Alexandria, Greece threaten schism in Church, Cypriot Metropolitan tells internat’l monastic conference
The international conference, “Monasticism and the Modern World” began in Nicosia, Cyprus yesterday.
It is Unacceptable to Have Eucharistic Communion with Unordained Schismatics It is Unacceptable to Have Eucharistic Communion with Unordained Schismatics
Metropolitan Nikiforos of Kykkos and Tellyria
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Commentary on the Ukrainian Issue for the Cypriot Holy Synod
Nikiforos
I can draw only one conclusion. Sadly enough, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s granting of autocephalous status to the schismatic community of Philaret and Epiphany not only did not heal the existing schism in Ukraine, but on the contrary, aggravated it.
Comments
Dimitrios12/5/2019 9:26 am
@Peter, spot on! The canons prescribe that such a bishop be deposed and anathema! Why are the canons being ignored! @Gary Cox, I feel the same, Nothing happens without God's permission, so it looks like separating the sheep from the goats. I do however feel that every Bishop and Priest should appose these violations, and that goes for every Lay person as well. Our offence is our indifference and silence. Metropolitan Vasilios has concelebrated with schismatics. He should, along with Ieronymos of Greece, Theodoros of Alexandria, and Bartholomew (the ecumenist patriarch), be deposed. The Russian Church is meeting at the end of December to decide if those who have entered into communion with the schismatics are now schismatic. This has huge implications for the faithful of Greece and Alexandria!
Gary Cox12/4/2019 5:35 pm
Things like this are discouraging. And then I have to remind myself that God is in control. Perhaps what we are witnessing is a purging of the bad elements and people from God's Church. It's taking a long time for the Patriarchs and Bishops to make a United statement about the take over attempt of Constantinople. I have a feeling they are working behind the scenes to preserve the faithful in the Church. The devil is attacking from within through Constantinople. Pray, Pray, Pray for our Patriarchs to stand strong and true!!! Gary
Peter12/3/2019 8:52 pm
Why is the bishop not to be defrocked for concelebrating with the schismatics?
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