Where is the Authoritative Voice of the Judge of the Universe?

A Heartfelt Letter to Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria

Following the sorrowful news of Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria’s decision to recognize the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” His Eminence Metropolitan Agafangel of Odessa of the canonical Ukrainian Church penned a moving and heartfelt letter to the Patriarch, with whom he has long been personally acquainted.

As he notes in his letter, Patriarch Theodoros lived and served in Odessa or ten years, at the time that the Ukrainian schisms were first beginning, and has returned to visit twice since becoming Patriarch of Alexandria. In fact, he visited Odessa just last year for the explicit purpose of strengthening and comforting the faithful of the canonical Ukrainian Church, encouraging them to remain loyal to Christ in the canonical Church under His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine.

Thus, the pain of the Patriarch’s recent decision is more personal for Orthodox Odessans.

    

***

No. 446, November 19, 2019

His Beatitude,
The Most Blessed Patriarch of Alexandria
and All Africa Theodoros II

Your Beatitude,
Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Theodoros!

A year has passed since Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew granted a “tomos” of autocephaly to the so-called “OCU.” However, the declared good intentions of the Ecumenical Throne—to save the disastrous state of Ukrainian Orthodoxy, to heal the wounds of schism, to restore to communion with the Orthodox Church those children who are beyond its boundaries—were not crowned with success, but, on the contrary, deepened the crisis and are quickly leading towards a schism of the entire Orthodox world.

The “OCU” is a group of schismatics and self-consecrated people, having no sacred orders, and in general, nothing in common with Orthodoxy, which you well know. Their blasphemous, abusive, and slanderous declarations aimed at the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian people bear witness to this. The representatives of this denomination have turned out to be a weapon in the hands of the enemies of the Church and Christ, who hate all that is holy and quite often—God Himself. They fell for the devil’s trick, forgetting that the Church is governed by Christ, and not the Ecumenical Patriarch.

Today it is absolutely clear that Orthodoxy is being destroyed with the help of the rulers of this world, that there is no longer unity amongst the Local Orthodox Churches, and that chaos reigns; and what’s worse, that all this is being openly done by Patriarch Bartholomew, who has fallen into the heresy of ethnophyletism, of eastern papism, and the ecclesiological heresy of ecumenism. Having committed a blasphemous act—the recognition of the self-consecrated schismatics with the stroke of a pen, he insists that all the Local Churches recognize the pseudo-structure created by him.

With great sadness and anxiety we received the news that you, Your Beatitude, commemorated “metropolitan Epiphany” as the “primate” of the Ukrainian Church during the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Archangel Michael in Cairo on November 8 and announced your recognition of this pseudo-structure; and that, despite the fact that during your visit to Odessa in September 2018 you, as before, recognized only one canonical orthodox Church, headed by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry. How your words are at odds with your deeds!

And how striking that the Patriarch of Alexandria, having the title of Judge of the Universe, for fear of the Jews surrendered the position of canonical Orthodoxy. Instead of speaking in defense of Church unity, instead of calling all primates, as the Judge of the Universe, to seek a canonically and dogmatically correct resolution to the Ukrainian problem, you embarked on the path of destroying the Church. After all, you, like all Greeks, well know that Patriarch Bartholomew trampled upon the sacred canons and dogmas of the Holy Orthodox Church. Today, justifying his actions, he refers not to the canons and dogmas of the Orthodox Church, but to the opinions of secular people, who are far from solving such questions—lawyers and publicists.

Where is the strong and authoritative voice of the Patriarch of Alexandria during troubles and sorrows for all of Orthodoxy? Why has the successor to the ancient Church of the apostle Mark, fearing the mighty of this world, betrayed the many millions of Ukrainian Orthodox people? Are you really so afraid of angering Patriarch Bartholomew but not afraid to so daringly go against Christ and His Holy Church?

Patriarch Theodoros (left) and Metropolitan Agafangel (right). Photo: eparhiya.od.ua Patriarch Theodoros (left) and Metropolitan Agafangel (right). Photo: eparhiya.od.ua     

The years of your ministry in Odessa brought you honor and respect among the clergy and faithful, and you were personally assured of this when you twice visited Odessa as Patriarch. We all prayed together with you and communed of the Body and Blood of Christ our Savior from one chalice. You had the opportunity to look the people straight in the eye and preach Christ. And today you have so easily betrayed those who respected you, who sincerely loved you, and who heard your wonderful homilies with purity of heart. The Odessans who know you are very surprised, upset, and scandalized by your actions.

You have offended St. Seraphim of Sarov, by whose prayers you became Patriarch, which you, Your Beatitude, have spoken about many times. Hieromartyr Gregory V, Patriarch of Constantinople weeps, at whose shrine with a particle of his relics you and the Orthodox Odessans prayed during your ten years as the Exarch of the Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. Odessa, the minor homeland of Greeks, and Odessans, who believed you and hoped that you would never betray the Church of Christ and not dare to rend the Savior’s robe, mourn.

Your Beatitude, think what you are doing! Orthodoxy is in danger. A schism of the Orthodox Church is, quite unfortunately, becoming a clearly unavoidable and historical fact. After all, you well know that this scam with the artificial Ukrainian “autocephaly” is aimed at the destruction of Orthodoxy, at the destabilization of inter-Orthodox relations. You stated that you made this decision after much thought. But that is not true! Everyone well understands that this decision was rash, made under external influence and pressure. Please, tell the entire world which canon gives the right to declared self-ordained schismatics, having no sacred orders, to be clergymen and to grant them a tomos and autocephaly?

The “tomos” did not bring peace to Ukraine, but, on the contrary, enmity, malice, and hatred aimed at the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church from the representatives of the so-called “OCU,” which the false patriarch Philaret himself has renounced, who previously was zealously in favoring of granting the “tomos.” Churches are being seized and priests and the faithful of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church are being beaten. The seized churches stand empty, and the faithful Ukrainian people of God, whose opinion the Ecumenical Patriarch ignored, will never pray with the self-consecrated schismatics. The canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church will never recognize the so-called “OCU,” because it is contrary to the sacred canons of the Holy Church. The only possible way for them to enter the Church is to first begin to believe in God, in the Gospel, and to bring forth the good fruits of sincere repentance.

Unfortunately, history vividly testifies to us of the names of the Patriarchs of Constantinople and Alexandria who fell into heresy and trampled upon the sacred canons. They forever remain apostates from the true faith and traitors to Sacred Tradition. They were all victims of the negative influence exerted upon the Church by the state, interfering in its teachings and inner life. And today we see open interference in the internal affairs of the Church and pressure on hierarchs to be obedient and loyal in the matter of adapting the Church to the needs of the politics of globalization.

Your Beatitude! Do not become one of them condemned by history, the Church, and God! After all, even here on Earth you will have to give an answer before the face of all of world Orthodoxy. It’s only a matter of time, not to mention that every one of us will have to appear before the Judgment of God, bearing in mind that the sin of schism is not washed away even by martyr’s blood.

Your Beatitude!

If God be for us, who can be against us? (Rom. 8:31).

We are praying for you to our Heavenly God the Father and greatly hope that you will reconsider and reexamine your decision, and come to knowledge of the truth and defend the unity of canonical Orthodoxy.

+ Agafangel
METROPOLIAN OF ODESSA AND IZMAIL,
PERMANENT MEMBER OF THE HOLY SYNOD
OF THE UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

Metropolitan Agafangel of Odessa
Translated by Jesse Dominick

11/22/2019

See also
Patriarch of Alexandria recognized schismatics “out of respect for the Ecumenical Patriarchate” Patriarch of Alexandria recognized schismatics “out of respect for the Ecumenical Patriarchate” Patriarch of Alexandria recognized schismatics “out of respect for the Ecumenical Patriarchate” Patriarch of Alexandria recognized schismatics “out of respect for the Ecumenical Patriarchate”
Pat. Theodoros has not yet offered any dogmatic or canonical arguments in favor of his decision, but emphasized that he “had to show that he is a real Patriarch who understands the seriousness of the problems and tries to find a solution.”
Patriarch of Alexandria and Archbishop of Greece meet in Athens Patriarch of Alexandria and Archbishop of Greece meet in Athens Patriarch of Alexandria and Archbishop of Greece meet in Athens Patriarch of Alexandria and Archbishop of Greece meet in Athens
Few details of the meeting were available as of the time of writing, but the report notes that the Patriarch thanked the Church of Greece for its support.
Patriarch of Alexandria broke promise that he wouldn’t commemorate Epiphany Dumenko in Cyprus Patriarch of Alexandria broke promise that he wouldn’t commemorate Epiphany Dumenko in Cyprus Patriarch of Alexandria broke promise that he wouldn’t commemorate Epiphany Dumenko in Cyprus Patriarch of Alexandria broke promise that he wouldn’t commemorate Epiphany Dumenko in Cyprus
During the broadcast, Met. Athanasios stressed that the bishops of the Patriarchate of Alexandria who were traveling with Pat. Theodoros assured him from the moment they arrived that the Patriarch had promised not to commemorate Epiphany Dumenko. Further, the Patriarch himself did not warn Met. Athanasios during the Liturgy that he intended to commemorate the schismatic.
Patriarch of Alexandria: Decision to commemorate OCU will lead to solution, not a schism Patriarch of Alexandria: Decision to commemorate OCU will lead to solution, not a schism Patriarch of Alexandria: Decision to commemorate OCU will lead to solution, not a schism Patriarch of Alexandria: Decision to commemorate OCU will lead to solution, not a schism
Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria believes that his sudden decision to commemorate Epiphany Dumenko, the primate of the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” will not lead to any divisions in the Church, but in fact to a solution to the ongoing Ukrainian crisis.
Pat. of Alexandria: I decided to commemorate Epiphany after private discussions with bishops and time of prayer Pat. of Alexandria: I decided to commemorate Epiphany after private discussions with bishops and time of prayer Pat. of Alexandria: I decided to commemorate Epiphany after private discussions with bishops and time of prayer Pat. of Alexandria: I decided to commemorate Epiphany after private discussions with bishops and time of prayer
The Patriarch notes that no Synodal decision was made on recognizing the OCU, but that he made the decision himself, reflecting the general consensus of the bishops of the Patriarchate.
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
It is Unacceptable to Have Eucharistic Communion with Unordained Schismatics It is Unacceptable to Have Eucharistic Communion with Unordained Schismatics
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
Haeul12/27/2019 8:44 pm
A powerful and moving letter. You stand shoulder to shoulder with Diocletian and other persecutors of the Church, Bartholomew! The blood of the martyrs is on yours hands!
sherlock_holmes11/25/2019 7:37 am
"The current Ecumenical Patriarch, pray to God to die without a bloodbath."..... Evil will move up and affect the Orthodox Church. There will be so many tribulations, that those who love the Ecumenical Patriarchate must pray for her and the times to come. They will go through a lot of trouble these people, that the gates of the Patriarchate will be stained with blood. If, however, people who pray for them, this great evil can be removed. More, for the current patriarch, I pray to God to die without a bloodbath. Only this I tell you, do not know how they will understand, unless they intensely pray, this patriarch will not die a natural death. There will be a lot of suffering. But if you will pray more, this attack will be avoided....Father Elpidios Vagianakis
Nun Irinea11/24/2019 9:49 pm
To Joseph Lipper: When in a previous comment you said "The Judge of the Universe has spoken", I thought, not knowing who you are, that you were speaking ironically, for who does not see as clear as midday, that this act of patriarch Theodoros is a blatant treason? Now with your comment here, on that truly hierarchical letter by metropolitan Agathangel, I see I was wrong and that you are blind. May the Lord open your eyes to the truth. In only one way you are right: the present problems in the Orthodox Church are about the "right and privilege of the Ecumenical Patriarch". Only these "right and privilege" are imaginary and nowhere to be found in the Sacred Canons of the Church wherefore they cause problems in the Church. Even the title of "Ecumenical Patriarch" has no canonical basis whatsoever since the fall of the Byzantine Empire which was, in the ancient sense, the "οικουμένη", and has been used since then by all who used it, in an abusive manner. Set your clocks aright!
Mikhail11/24/2019 6:15 am
Mr. Lipper is a Bartholomew sycophant. No one will change his mind...except Christ. I pray that Jerusalem holds this council. It is certain that the Bishop of Istanbul will not attend. Then he can be deposed according to the will of God.
Joseph Lipper11/24/2019 5:57 am
The response of Metropolitan Alexander of Nigeria to Metropolitan Agathangelos of Odessa: "I wonder when you will realise that it is you who are creating the current schism, because you do not want to accept the fact that everything we do in our Church has a beginning, middle and end.... There is a First in the Orthodox Church, who plays a decisive role. You are accusing the Ecumenical Patriarch of betrayal, while it is you who do not respect the Ecumenical Patriarchate that introduced Orthodoxy to you and created your Church."
Gary Cox11/23/2019 4:51 pm
Thank you nun Cornelia!!!
Gary Cox11/23/2019 4:49 pm
To Mr. Lipper, the Ukrainian Church problem is indeed a big problem but it is an offshoot of the bigger problem of Constantinople's power grab. The devil is using all means to destroy the Church from within. When the media and the politicians work together with weak or corrupt men in the Church then it's ridiculously easy to see where this is headed. But I'm beginning to wonder if you really know these things and are trying to be funny. But keep the comments coming. You make everyone else look incredibly smart Gary
Perry Townsend11/23/2019 3:55 am
Mr Lipper, “no glaring canonical impediments”? Wow! Are recognizing schismatics and invading the jurisdiction of another Local Church canonical and insignificant? If you are ignorant of the canonical issues, then please forgive me. I find it hard to think you are, given the fact that you are commenting on an article on this site. Your false narrative regarding Pat. Bartholomew’s action in the Ukraine is simply stunning. Please open your eyes, seek, and speak the truth - Pat Bartholomew’s actions are uncanonical and of dire significance to the Orthodox Church.
Theodoros11/22/2019 9:55 pm
To Mr. Lipper Patriarch Bartholomew is making a mockery of the canons and the conciliar tradition of orthodoxy. He has rejected all requests to convene a council as he knows he will be forced to reverse himself or be deposed if one were convened. I agree with the bishops of Piraeus and kythira who have called for a council with or without bartholomew. Ther Orthodox Church needs to move on and the violence against the canonical church in Ukraine must end. someone must call for a council and since bartholomew refuses then it might as well be jerusalem. This situation must end and the church can no longer be held hostage to bartholomew and hisv western secular allies.
Ortho-Ellinas11/22/2019 8:24 pm
Joseph,Joseph......Intentions...ahhh that word, only God truly knows the intentions of a man's heart, one can word arguments,obfuscate the truth,twist,invert .....many tricks that a good barrister knows and uses ....TRUTH is revealed via the Holy Spirit...."NO canonical impediments" to E.P 's decision in Ukraine?....you base that on what?....that's an obfuscating statement, meant to boggle down and keep the Orthodox church in disunity....process of apostasy .....It's obvious the west influenced/coerced this decision to counter,stick it to Russia ....decisions in the Orthodox church are not to be made this way....why won't the EP call for a council among the equals...Orthodox unity is at stake.... The bible makes it CRYSTAL CLEAR when 2 brothers have a disagreement take it to the brotherhood, keep it within and the holy spirit will guide...don't take it outside, non-orthodox,worldly....call an ecumenical council....
nun Cornelia11/22/2019 8:06 pm
Joseph Lipper: Forgive me, but you sound again and again like a broken record, repeating yourself without actually thinking about what you are saying. You would have to be totally blind to see that Pat. Bartholomew is not going to call a council,that a council is needed, because what he did is wrong. We can see by the fruits that it's wrong. In Orthodoxy, we follow Christ, not patriarchs. If the patriarch is wrong, then we do not agree with him. We have to follow our Church canons and Christ's commandments. Forgive me, but you sound just like one of the Pharisees who condemned Christ: "We have a law..." I am talking about the suffering Ukrainian Church. You are blithely condemning them to death. There is a big difference in these cases between what is supposedly legal and what is right. If it were so easy in Orthodoxy to determine these things, there never would have been a need for councils. Besides, you are ignorant of Church history, and your supposition of the protocols for calling councils is historically wrong. The Ecumenical Councils were not called by the patriarch of Constantinople but by the king. I have seen people respond to similar comments from you in the same vein as I am now, but you just go on with your same line. It really makes me wonder what you are, since you do not respond to the arguments and only repeat yourself.
Joseph Lipper11/22/2019 7:00 pm
The Patriarch of Alexandria is fully committed to the unity of the Church. This is exactly why he ruled in favor of the Ecumenical Patriarch's decision, and it's the only way forward for there to be an Ecumenical Council called by the EP. Any council that Jerusalem might call will not be universally recognized and will only result in disagreement. Nonetheless, it's highly likely that a "Jerusalem Council" will result in more Local Churches siding with the Ecumenical Patriarchate. There are no glaring canonical impediments in recognizing the Ecumenical Patriarch's decision in Ukraine. This has been confirmed by the Church of Greece and the Patriarch of Alexandria. The current disagreement in Orthodoxy is about the right and privilege of the Ecumenical Patriarch. Yet it was Patriarch Bartholomew's original intent to canonically limit his own right and privilege regarding the declaration of autocephaly at the Council of Crete.
Ortho-Ellinas11/22/2019 6:53 pm
Excellent letter,hope it finds the Patriarch of Alexandria,and he has a change of heart/mind. What kind of pressure must they be under to make such BAD decisions, or where they always corrupt?, or are they under such delusion/spell?.....or are they absolving themselves (in their heads/minds) by just being good/obedient followers of Patr. Bart , thinking I'm just following orders ,he's the grand/first among equals? ... I think it may be a little of all the above.
PD11/22/2019 5:01 pm
Beautifully said! Too bad it will likely fall on deaf ears...
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