Patriarchs Bartholomew and Theodoros serve with schismatic primate Dumenko for first time

Imbros, Turkey, August 13, 2021

Photo: fosfanariou.gr Photo: fosfanariou.gr     

Last night and this morning, Patriarchs Bartholomew of Constantinople and Theodoros of Alexandria prayed and served with “Metropolitan” Epiphany Dumenko, the head of the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” for the first time.

The Patriarchate of Constantinople entered into communion with two groups of Ukrainian schismatics in October 2018 and merged them into one new schismatic group that December. Pat. Theodoros first commemorated the unordained Dumenko a year later in November 2019—a decision he made unilaterally, without a vote from the Holy Synod of Alexandria.

Until yesterday, the Patriarchs had concelebrated with “hierarchs” of the graceless OCU, but never with Dumenko.

The concelebration came on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Pat. Bartholomew’s ordination to the diaconate, which was celebrated on his native island of Imbros, Turkey.

Dumenko led the evening service in the Church of St. George in the village of Agios Theodoros, while the two Patriarchs prayed in the church together with hierarchs from the Churches of Greece and Cyprus and other Constantinople and schismatic hierarchs, reports the OCU.

And this morning, the Patriarchs and other hierarchs concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with Dumenko for the first time.

They are planning to concelebrate again during the Patriarch’s upcoming visit for the celebration of the 30th anniversary of Ukrainian independence.

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8/13/2021

See also
“Bartholomew, we didn’t invite you”—Orthodox flash mob against Patriarch’s visit to Ukraine “Bartholomew, we didn’t invite you”—Orthodox flash mob against Patriarch’s visit to Ukraine “Bartholomew, we didn’t invite you”—Orthodox flash mob against Patriarch’s visit to Ukraine “Bartholomew, we didn’t invite you”—Orthodox flash mob against Patriarch’s visit to Ukraine
The Orthodox faithful of the Zaporozhye Diocese have launched a social-network flash mob to let Patriarch Bartholomew how they feel about his upcoming visit to Ukraine. Constantinople has never once condemned violence against Ukrainian Orthodox, notes canonical bishop Constantinople has never once condemned violence against Ukrainian Orthodox, notes canonical bishop Constantinople has never once condemned violence against Ukrainian Orthodox, notes canonical bishop Constantinople has never once condemned violence against Ukrainian Orthodox, notes canonical bishop
As is well known, ever since Pat. Bartholomew and the Patriarchate of Constantinople invaded Ukrainian Church territory and created a parallel “church” organization there, violence has ramped up against the Ukrainian Orthodox. The Cause of the Division of the One People of God The Cause of the Division of the One People of God
An Address of Ukrainian Monastics to Patriarch Bartholomew The Cause of the Division of the One People of God The Cause of the Division of the One People of God
An Address of Ukrainian Monastics to Patriarch Bartholomew
In the current situation, we, the monastics of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, appeal to you to assess the consequences of your actions and reconsider your decision. Schismatics and those who pray with them will not be saved—Elder Gabriel of Mt. Athos, disciple of St. Paisios Schismatics and those who pray with them will not be saved—Elder Gabriel of Mt. Athos, disciple of St. Paisios Schismatics and those who pray with them will not be saved—Elder Gabriel of Mt. Athos, disciple of St. Paisios Schismatics and those who pray with them will not be saved—Elder Gabriel of Mt. Athos, disciple of St. Paisios
The “priests” of the OCU are sacrilegious, and “many hierarchs pray and concelebrate with heretics,” the Elder said. Patriarch Irinej held Patriarch Bartholomew personally responsible for suffering in Ukraine, Ukrainian hierarch reveals Patriarch Irinej held Patriarch Bartholomew personally responsible for suffering in Ukraine, Ukrainian hierarch reveals Patriarch Irinej held Patriarch Bartholomew personally responsible for suffering in Ukraine, Ukrainian hierarch reveals Patriarch Irinej held Patriarch Bartholomew personally responsible for suffering in Ukraine, Ukrainian hierarch reveals
During a meeting with a Ukrainian Church delegation at Archangel Michael Cathedral in Belgrade, the recently-reposed Serbian primate “openly stated in front of everyone that he had met with Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and directly told him to his face: ‘Through your non-canonical and harmful actions, you are personally guilty of what is happening in Ukraine today,’” His Grace Bishop Viktor of Baryshevka of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church recalls. Ukrainian citizens appeal to Pat. Bartholomew: Stop inciting religious enmity, find a solution with all Local Churches Ukrainian citizens appeal to Pat. Bartholomew: Stop inciting religious enmity, find a solution with all Local Churches Ukrainian citizens appeal to Pat. Bartholomew: Stop inciting religious enmity, find a solution with all Local Churches Ukrainian citizens appeal to Pat. Bartholomew: Stop inciting religious enmity, find a solution with all Local Churches
The appeal asks the Patriarch to put himself in the shoes of a simple Ukrainian parishioner. Peace was promised, “but what does the soul of an Orthodox brother feel when his church is seized?”
Comments
anastasio8/15/2021 4:52 pm
Rdr Daniel, grazie per la risposta con la quale in gran parte concordo. Il termine nazionalismo da me usato hai giustamente notato è stato usato in senso anacronistico, volevo parlare più che altro di etnocentrismo da un punto di vista ecclesiatico insito nella Chiesa greca. Grazie anche per le osservazioni storiche con cui sono d'accordo, ma per il termine barbaro mi limiterei al suo senso in lingua greca classica. Kalì Panaghia!
Rdr Daniel8/14/2021 4:36 pm
Well, Cyprus is not unified on the matter there are several bishops defending the faith against their Archbishop's madness and the number who actively support him is quite small. At least one Metropolitan has warned the Archbishop of Cyprus that he is commemorating him only by economy for the sake of unity and will cease the moment he concelebrates with the unordained schismatics from Ukraine. As such it would likely lead to a local schism as a number of Bishops would stay faithful to the Church and a number enter schism by joining with their Archbishop's error. With Greece I do not know: the number of faithful bishops there is very small but there are still holy elders in Greece and the recently departed Elder Ephrem of Arizona is said to have appeared to a couple to tell them that the Church of Greece with repent of its actions so far.
Rdr Daniel8/14/2021 4:28 pm
Anastasio: Perdonami ma non parlo molto italiano quindi potresti aver bisogno di usare qualcosa per tradurre. There is nationalism within the Church nowadays, but it's more the case they have found themselves in an enclave in a city controlled by another nation, thus they are vulnerable and without any real power just like Rome found itself back then. As such they wish to follow the example of Rome in its pretentions over the other churches as a way of gaining power and prestige, using the real issues facing the Church (concentration of episcopal authority in national patriarchs, nationalism, the failure of Russia to fully denounce Communism etc..) as a cloak. Remember modern nationalism didn't exist in the days of the Great Schism, yes there was a superiority complex about being Roman vs Barbarian (which to be honest was understandable) but not nationalism. Rome, like Constantinople today, was trying to consolidate power into one bishop who from then on would be first without equals - again under the cloak of the real issues facing the Church at the time, especially in the West where feudalism was reeking havoc with secular rulers controlling parishes and even monasteries, and appointing clergy even the bishops as feudal vassals. Also bare in mind all the other eastern bishops -who were not subject to feudal lords or part of the Gregorian reforms- including all other patriarchs of the pentarchy and autocephalous churches agreed with Constantinople. Ironically the heresy of papism had already been condemned by a local council whose canons where ratified by the Eighth Ecumenical Council. Today Constantinople knows this and has the example of Rome and where this heresy leads but they continue anyway, indeed with far more heretical justifications than Rome for their stance.
Alexander Leitner8/14/2021 2:34 pm
The Russ Orthodox Church has to come to her senses! They will not repent. They are a Para-Church. The Greek Churches have fallen into Apostasy loooong ago. These are only the open fruits. I hope the Russian Orthodox Church will soon openly condemn Bartholomew, Ieronymos, Chrysostomos, Theodoros...and all the modernists, ecumenists, schismatics,
Jovan8/14/2021 1:04 pm
The article is not 100% correct. Bartholomew has served with Dumenko before, especially the day he gave the infamous 'tomos' to him. May the Lord enlighten him to acknowledge his errors and correct them before his passing to eternity.
Steve8/13/2021 6:45 pm
Why didn't the archbishops of Cyprus and Greece concelebrate also?
Theodoros8/13/2021 4:58 pm
Both bartholomew and Theodore should be deposed. In addition to their destruction in Ukraine these two Sorry "patriarchs" are defiling the church in Imbros. That is one of the few churches left in turkey that the Greek Orthodox community has managed to prevent the Turks from seizing or destroying and These two heresiarchs defile it by inviting the fraud Dimenko. Patriarch bartholomew follows in the footsteps of his predecessor athenagoras. When athenagoras was patriarch he was protected by Turkish troops on the night in September 1955 when ordinary orthodox Greeks and their churches and homes were targeted in pogroms. Athenagoras never protested when most orthodox Greeks were forced to flee constantinople during the 1950s and 1960s because he only cared about the patriarchate. Bartholomew maintains this narrow minded view. The patriarchate at the expense of everything including orthodoxy. In the end bartholomews American friends will leave the patriarchate to its demise at the hands of the Turks when it is no longer useful to their anti Russian agenda. Orthodoxy will recover and the churches of Greece and Cyprus will return to the true path but the church of constantinople will cease to exist because the phanariots saw the patriarchate not as part of the universal Orthodox Church subject to the dogmas and canons, but as a papal like entity above orthodoxy. For their errors, the phanariots have condemned the church of constantinople to extinction. Those Greeks who attach themselves to bartholomews cause betray orthodoxy and Greek interests.
anastasio8/13/2021 4:50 pm
Penso che lo scisma con Roma del 1054 sia stato fatto da parte di Costantinopoli per motivi nazionalistici contro Roma, visto che adesso vogliono e pretendono di comportarsi come i papi nei riguardi delle altre Chiese ortodosse
Alex8/13/2021 3:34 pm
Sad. So just very sad.
Rdr Daniel8/13/2021 3:09 pm
Now neither are in any way Orthodox bishops but full schematics: any bishop of their respective Holy Synods is fully justified in ceasing commemoration of them, indeed all have a duty to do so immediately; likewise ay priest directly a member of their diocese. May the Lord have mercy on the holy patriarchates of Constantinople and Alexandria, may bring to repentance and strengthen their hierarchs in Orthodoxy to stand against the innovations of their patriarchs, and give the clergy and people strength to resist and endure.
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