Primates of Constantinople and Greece concelebrate with schismatics in Greece

Thassos, Greece, September 5, 2022

Abp. Ieronymos (left), Pat. Bartholomew (center), Epiphany Dumenko (right). Photo: Romfea Abp. Ieronymos (left), Pat. Bartholomew (center), Epiphany Dumenko (right). Photo: Romfea     

On Sunday, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens concelebrated with the primate of the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” “Metropolitan” Epiphany Dumenko.

The Liturgy was held at the Church of the Dormition in Thassos for the feast of the Synaxis of All Saints of Thassos, reports Romfea.

Other hierarchs from Constantinople, Greece, and the OCU also served, including Simeon Shostatsky, a former canonical bishop who left the Orthodox Church to join the schismatics in December 2018.

While Pat. Bartholomew has concelebrated with the schismatic Dumenko before, this was the first time Abp. Ieronymos served with him since entering into communion with the schismatics in October 2019.

Recall that the Orthodox faithful of Thassos protested the plans to concelebrate with Dumenko several times, emphasizing that he is an unordained schismatic. A group of Athonite monks led by Elder Gabriel, a spiritual child of St. Paisios the Athonite, also raised their voices in protest.

“Words cannot express the spiritual joy for today’s Divine Liturgy,” Dumenko said, addressing the other hierarchs. “We bear witness to the unity of the Church of Christ all here together.”

And concerning those Churches which refuse to have communion with the schismatic OCU, Dumenko said: “Some deny Church communion for the sake of power. They seek secular power and wealth.” He called on them to “give up stubbornness and return to the truth and unity of the Church.”

In turn, Pat. Bartholomew declared that the “Ecumenical Patriarchate restored a big problem, with much care and deep study,” referring to the Ukrainian schism.

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9/5/2022

Comments
Steve9/8/2022 3:24 pm
Thank you, Panagiotis, you are quite correct regarding the prophecies.
Panagiotis9/8/2022 3:08 am
To Orthodox Brother Alexander: Please wake up and smell the Turkish coffee - I know some of my Serbian Brothers like to drink this, but they will not admit it (I am just joking about this, so don't get worked up). Yes, as I have said before, the Turks will never destroy Greece, and I am correct. Read the prophecies again. The Greek Elder said that Constantinople will be given to the Greeks without the Greeks firing a shot. That means there will be no fighting in Greece! The Greek Elder said that my Russian Brothers will liberate Constantinople, and they will hand over Constantinople to the Greeks, but the Greeks will not be involved with the fighting, and therefore the Greek Nation will not be destroyed by the Turks. The Turkish Army will be destroyed by the Russians, this is the prophecy my Orthodox Brother. The Elder Greek also stated that 1/3 of the Turks will return to their Orthodox roots, 1/3 will perish in the fighting, and 1/3 will return to the interior of the Turkish Nation. So you see my friend, the Greeks will never be destroyed by the Turks! Don't confuse the Greek People or Greek Nation with Greek Church leaders. You know yourself that I have criticized the liberal policies of Greek Church leaders, as well as any other Orthodox that have policies that are not true Orthodox conservative policies. I have been a staunch supporter of the conservative policies of my Russian Orthodox Brothers, and you know this Brother Alexander. I stated about a year ago that the problems in the Ukraine will eventually pass, and there will be one unified Orthodox Church in the Ukraine. Now we see that this is indeed the road that we are on. There will be a Unified Orthodox Church in Ukraine that both Russian Church and Constantinople will accept. Then we will be reconciled, all Orthodox, and we will be unified again. The problems will soon pass. It is near night time here Serbian Brother, so I must say "loko noch", I think that means "good night" in Serbian...... Just my humble opinion.
Alexander Leitner9/7/2022 10:57 pm
@this will never ever happen! Greece will be punished soon. A few days ago Erdogan threatened greece again that he will come in the night. We all know the prophecies. I never understood why God would allow such a punishment for greece. And why Elder Paisios and others said "greeks are unworthy to free Constantinople". It is because of their betrayal. Their apostasy. The Panagia told one Eldress that She is not able anymore to intercede for greece. The wrath of God will catch greece soon.
Alexei9/6/2022 8:42 pm
To David, I stand for the Orthodox Church and the Canons. Take out every church that you mentioned. Take out the politics. Look at what has been done. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” with “Metropolitan” Epiphany Dumenko is a Schismatic according to the Canons of the Orthodox Church. He was ordained by "Patriarch Filaret". "Patriarch Filaret" was defrocked, excommunicated, and Anathematized by the Orthodox Church of Moscow-ACCORDING TO THE RULES OF THE CANONS. This was accepted by Patriarch Bartholomew. The rules of the Canons are also clear on this point. Only the church that instituted these penalties can remove them. There is nothing in the Canons that says that Patriarch Bartholomew can remove them. Patriarch Bartholomew DOES NOT have the authority to change this according to the Canons. Patriarch Bartholomew is the first among equals, not the First above all others. That would be the same as the Pope. Let us all pray that this will not last long and that God in his wisdom will show us what is the right way. Regardless of politics, God will show us the way that HE wants. And the people who are not doing what God wants, (again-regardless of politics), will need to humble themselves, repent, ask forgiveness, and do what needs to be done to the Glory of God.
David9/6/2022 3:30 am
Mr. Dominick: Moscow could fix the situation with the simple stroke of a pen, as they did in 1946 with the Lvov "Council." It was and is their refusal to do so which is at the heart of the "politics" accusation. Even now, the UOC (no longer MP) is autocephalous in all but name, with Russian clerics already declaring them schismatic (the UOC opening diaspora parishes and sucking all of the Ukrainians out of the ROC parishes abroad being a particular sticking point)---although the MP Synod refuses to say the S word openly, only writing veiled threats. They know that doing so will make the break complete and final. Whatever one thought about the OCU before the war, everything has changed now. An autocephalous Ukrainian Church is inevitable, and the OCU will be a part of it (whether Moscow likes it or not).
Michael 9/5/2022 11:43 pm
As a Greek-American I say this with sadness. But Greece moves further away from Holy Orthodoxy, and I predict that God will allow a great darkness to fall over her to punish her for this horrific sin of schism. Hopefully the leaders of the Greek Church will repent or be replaced by more sober and pious ones. Glory to God no other Local Churches seem to have participated in this schismatic Greek tragedy.
Jesse Dominick9/5/2022 9:15 pm
Steve, of course, this is just a delusional statement from Dumenko. The schismatics are just like children closing their eyes and sticking their fingers in their ears. Every Church that rejects them has articulated canonical and dogmatic reasons for doing so. Pretending it's just about politics is just elongating the schism, because they refuse to face the reality of the situation.
Steve9/5/2022 5:10 pm
For those who deny Church communion for the sake of secular power and wealth, NOW is the time to give up your stubbornness and return to the truth and unity of the Church!
Alex9/5/2022 4:08 pm
And, the charade continues!
Georgios9/5/2022 3:59 pm
It's a totally shamefull action. The greek people is terrorized many times to accept this situtation and the illegal, irrational and of course anticanonical acts of the eastern papism of Bartholomew. Many times, Fanar is using also localism as a weapon to gain support for its actions, they are saying to some groups, like Cretans, Pontians, Minorasians, of course Constantinopolitans "you are not like the others, you are better than them, you are lords, archons, not filthy helladitic peasants, stay with us, and as long as you are staying with us and supporting every action of us then you are having as populations of origin, a lordy position among the Greeks", and many fools are deceived by that. For the not deceived there is always other methods, screams by priests that "I call the secret services/the American Embassy to investigate if you are a russophile" are not rare.
Alexander Leitner9/5/2022 1:58 pm
Schismatics with schismatics! They do not belong to the Holy Orthodox Church.
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