Kiev, November 25, 2020
Photo: spzh.news
Commenting on the situation that has arisen due to the unilateral decision of Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus to recognize the Ukrainian schismatics, His Eminence Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary emphasized that true Church life does not know the question of opposing nationalities and national traditions.
Despite the fact that they are Greeks and that there is serious pressure on them to follow Patriarch Bartholomew, there are those Cypriot bishops who stand on the foundation of the canonical structure of the Church and are not inclined to change their position, said Met. Anthony, the Chancellor of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, in a recent interview with First Cossack.
Our modern era is unfavorable towards Christianity, the Metropolitan noted, “and especially for Orthodoxy, which adheres to the Apostolic Tradition and, thank God, gives the correct assessment of many negative phenomena that they are trying to plant in societies around the world.”
Of course, “the architects of the modern world” are displeased with the Church’s position and will do anything they can to weaken the unity of the Church.
His Eminence also stressed that when we talk about the recognition of the schismatic OCU, it is a matter of individual primates, not entire Local Churches.
Concerning the Greek, Alexandrian, and Cypriot Churches, “The decision was not made by the Synod, much less the Bishops’ Council,” but by the primate alone, although other hierarchs of these Churches continue to voice their protest.
There are even hierarchs among the Patriarchate of Constantinople who have indicated to the Ukrainian Church that they do not agree with Pat. Bartholomew’s ill-advised attack on Ukrainian Church territory, but they are not willing to speak out against it.
Many hierarchs are worried and looking for a way out of this situation, Met. Anthony explained. And although it is painful, “it is necessary to clearly call everything what it is: what is true, what is false, what is the true faith, what is heresy, what is the canonical structure, and what is an attempt to radically reorganize the Church.”
Met. Anthony also recalled that Abp. Chrysostomos of Cyprus, who initially firmly stood against Constantinople’s lawlessness, radically changed his own position, attempting to present it as the position of the Cypriot Church. And the Synod of the schismatic OCU has received his decision as representative of the entire Cypriot Church, addressing an official “thank you” to the Church of Cyprus.
Recall that an official position from the Holy Synod of the Cypriot Church is expected later today.
And as Met. Anthony noted, there are several Cypriot bishops who oppose recognition of the OCU. “They are not inclined to give up these positions, which are not pro-Russian, not pro-Ukrainian, but are the fundamental basis of the Church’s life.”
Abp. Chrysostomos and the supporters of Constantinople have boorishly attempted to slander the vocal Cypriot bishops as launching a conspiracy against the Archbishop, in the service of foreign political actors.
There is some opposition between the Greek and Slavic worlds, between Russians and Ukrainians, Greeks and Russians now, but they are based on “false and incorrect premises,” the Chancellor commented.
“The question in Church life is not about an opposition of nationalities and national traditions. It is about protecting the foundations of the Church’s existence. Regardless who is of what nationality—he is either with or against Christ. He is either in the Church or trying to destroy its foundation,” Met. Anthony concluded, noting that there could be a decision from the Cypriot Synod today.
On October 17 of last year, the Russian Holy Synod adopted a statement in which they declared that despite the efforts of some, the friendship between Greeks and Slavs cannot be destroyed.
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