Thassos, Greece, September 5, 2022
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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