Elder Ephraim opposed recognition of Ukrainian schismatics, Metropolitan of Morphou says

Morphou, Cyprus, December 13, 2019

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During a spiritual talk given on November 26, His Eminence Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou of the Cypriot Orthodox Church answered a number of questions from the audience. Among other things, the hierarch referred to a spiritual event involving Elder Ephraim of Arizona, concerning the ongoing Ukrainian crisis.

Elder Ephraim reposed peacefully in the Lord just two weeks after the talk was given.

A video of a portion of the talk is available on the Talks of the Metropolitan of Morphou YouTube page. The relevant section begins around 8:36.

Speaking of the Ukrainian Crisis and Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens’ recognition of the Ukrainian schismatics, Met. Neophytos tells about a couple in Greece who were considering no longer communing in the Church of Greece but instead attending services only at representations of the Jerusalem Patriarchate or Mt. Sinai.

However, as a pious couple, they decided first to fast and pray about it. After three days, Elder Ephraim appeared to the couple and told them to continue communing in the Church of Greece, but comforted them by adding that various problems would arise that would cause the hierarchs to realize the severity of their error in recognizing the anti-canonical actions of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, and that a council would be called to deal with the Ukrainian crisis and other problems.

The couple used to live in America and was personally acquainted with Geronda Ephraim.

Concerned that the vision could have been a delusion, the couple decided to visit another holy elder for advice, but before they could even ask his counsel, he immediately told them to do whatever Elder Ephraim had told them.

During the same spiritual conversation, Met. Neophytos affirmed that the Cypriot Church recognizes only His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine as the canonical primate in Ukraine.

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12/13/2019

See also
Four Greek metropolitans call on primates to convene pan-Orthodox council about Ukraine Four Greek metropolitans call on primates to convene pan-Orthodox council about Ukraine Four Greek metropolitans call on primates to convene pan-Orthodox council about Ukraine Four Greek metropolitans call on primates to convene pan-Orthodox council about Ukraine
Several hierarchs of the Greek Orthodox Church who are concerned for Church unity have appealed to the primates of the Local Orthodox Churches to convene a pan-Orthodox council to resolve the Ukrainian issue that is creating divisions within the Church. 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. Greek hierarchs receive open letters from clergy, laity concerning recognition of Ukrainian schismatics Greek hierarchs receive open letters from clergy, laity concerning recognition of Ukrainian schismatics Greek hierarchs receive open letters from clergy, laity concerning recognition of Ukrainian schismatics Greek hierarchs receive open letters from clergy, laity concerning recognition of Ukrainian schismatics
The decision of the majority of the hierarchs of the Greek Church to throw their weight behind Constantinople and its invasion of Ukrainian Church territory and the decision of Archbishop Ieronymos, the President of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, to formally recognize the OCU and begin commemorating its primate has caused great consternation among the clergy and faithful throughout Greece. Archbishop of Cyprus: We disagree with actions of Constantinople and Athens, disagree with Moscow’s response Archbishop of Cyprus: We disagree with actions of Constantinople and Athens, disagree with Moscow’s response Archbishop of Cyprus: We disagree with actions of Constantinople and Athens, disagree with Moscow’s response Archbishop of Cyprus: We disagree with actions of Constantinople and Athens, disagree with Moscow’s response
The Cypriot Church continues to stand against the anti-canonical actions of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in Ukraine, and it does not agree with Archbishop Ieronymos of Athen’s decision to recognize the Ukrainian schismatics, though it also does not agree with the Moscow Patriarchate’s decision to break communion with the Patriarchate of Constantinople and with the Greek primate. Cypriot archimandrite: I experienced special grace serving with the suffering Ukrainians Cypriot archimandrite: I experienced special grace serving with the suffering Ukrainians Cypriot archimandrite: I experienced special grace serving with the suffering Ukrainians Cypriot archimandrite: I experienced special grace serving with the suffering Ukrainians
The faithful of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church have a true and inspiring relationship with God, Archimandrite Nektarios (Babopoulous), the Secretary of the Cypriot Tamassos Diocese, believes. Archbishop of Cyprus: Any unilateral decision on Ukraine would harm the Church Archbishop of Cyprus: Any unilateral decision on Ukraine would harm the Church Archbishop of Cyprus: Any unilateral decision on Ukraine would harm the Church Archbishop of Cyprus: Any unilateral decision on Ukraine would harm the Church
All parties involved need to think only about the good of the Church, not about personal interests, the Cypriot primate emphasized. “The Church is one, and we must all help to raise it up. We must cherish Orthodoxy as the apple of our eye,” he said.
Comments
Philaret12/15/2019 11:36 pm
These days we must be smarter and more discerning than our bishops. We need to err on the side of caution- no sacrilege- therefore no communion with Schismatics or those who willfully espouse them or any heresy.
Mariam Visagio12/14/2019 11:30 am
Well God help you, I trust the Metropolitan of Morphou, and I am no lover of the EP.
Jesse Dominick12/14/2019 11:25 am
Dionysius, the headline isn't misleading because it isn't claiming to prove that Elder Ephraim held this view, but only to convey what Metropolitan Neophytos said about it -- "Metropolitan of Morphou says"
Eduardo12/14/2019 4:30 am
Wholesome. A council in the works. Good news
Dionysius Redington12/13/2019 9:46 pm
The headline is extremely misleading. The story says only that some people had a vision of Elder Ephraim expressing certain views, which is hardly proof that the Elder held them. He could certainly have expressed those views himself in an ordinary way while alive, but so far as I know he didn't. Instead, his monasteries are now functioning as a bulwark of legitimacy for Abp. Elpidophoros (for whose repentance we should all be praying), the originator of the Primus Sine Paribus doctrine and a much more problematic person than Pat. Bartholomew himself.
Jacob12/13/2019 6:48 pm
I personally have a great deal of love and respect for the Metropolitan of Morphou, but in this case I will approach this story with extreme caution! It's very possible that Geronda Ephraim said these things to his spiritual children, but I will take the attitude of St. Thomas here, and say that unless the Geronda, (or one of the saints) appear to me I will not commune in any church that commemorates P. Bartholemew or any local churches which support him i.e. Alexandria and Greece! This is a very serious issue that cannot be dismissed, and we as laity should not enable P. Bartholemew to continue by our apathetic silence. God help us!
Joseph Lipper12/13/2019 4:21 pm
"Continue communing in the Church of Greece." That's the main takeaway from this.
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