Nicosia, Cyprus, November 23, 2020
Met. George of Paphos
The Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus met today to discuss the scandal that arose after Archbishop Chrysostomos began to commemorate the schismatic Epiphany Dumenko in the Divine Liturgy, despite his promise to the Synod that he would not do so.
According to Metropolitan George of Paphos, the representative of the Holy Synod, there is no decision at the moment. A final decision is to be issued in the coming week, reports Romfea. Some outlets are reporting that a final decision will be made on Wednesday.
As such press statements regularly indicate, “the Synod was held in a spirit of love and unity.”
“Explanations were given and the misunderstandings were resolved,” Met. George said.
Recall that Abp. Chrysostomos first commemorated Epiphany Dumenko, the head of the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” on October 24. Four hierarchs—Metropolitans Athanasios of Limassol, Nikiforos of Kykkos, Isaiah of Tamassos, and Bishop Nicholas of Amathountos—objected to the Archbishop’s actions and explained that he had explicitly promised the hierarchs of the Holy Synod that he would not commemorate Dumenko.
The Archbishop then began to make a number of emotionally-charged attacks against the hierarchs, saying they are immature and selfish, some are too young to dare speak against him, they are beholden to foreign political interests, and that they have launched a conspiracy against him, and so on.
Abp. Chrysostomos even accused them of forming a “parasynagogue” faction within the Church and said that they wouldn’t have treated him so badly even had he killed their families. Recall that the four hierarchs’ treatment of the Archbishop consisted of an open letter laying out their position.
On Friday, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church resolved that His Holiness Patriarch Kirill can no longer commemorate Abp. Chrysostomos in the Divine services as long as he remains in communion with schismatics.
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