Tamassos, Cyprus, December 16, 2022
Photo: reporter.com.cy
The issue of recognizing the “Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” recognized by the wider Orthodox world as schismatic, is over and done with in the Church of Cyprus, says Metropolitan Isaiah of Tamassos, one of the top contenders to next occupy the primatial throne of the Cypriot Church.
The hierarch spoke about a number of relevant topics in a recent interview with reporter.com, including, besides Ukraine, the ever-present topics of abortion and sexuality.
The Church has its beliefs but also doesn’t judge anyone, the Metropolitan said.
Asked about his goals if he becomes the next Archbishop, Met. Isaiah said first is to restore unity and cooperation among the members of the Holy Synod. Next: “The modernization of the pastoral policy of the Church, so that it becomes beneficial for the whole world, without discrimination.”
“It is necessary to make serious incisions and reforms in the Church of Cyprus, to be able to make Christ recognizable again to the man of today,” the Metropolitan said.
He also emphasized that the Cypriot Church “has an obligation to support the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the existing Patriarchates of the Middle East.”
Met. Isaiah was once among the Cypriot hierarchs who strongly opposed the recognition of the so-called “Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” which strained his relationship with the recently departed Archbishop Chrysostomos. Asked if he has changed his mind, the Metropolitan responded:
With the information we had at that time, we rightly asked for the opportunity of peace, through dialogue and neutrality, so that the autocephaly would function properly in Ukraine. Now the theological facts have changed, but also, with the invasion, the national facts have also changed, since any revisionism undermines our own existence, as well as that of Greece. We’re not ecclesiastically dependent on either the East or the West. We have autocephaly and we must have an opinion on it, according to the information we have in front of us.
The matter is over and if I’m elected, I won’t bring it back to the Holy Synod.
Met. Isaiah did not clarify which “theological facts have changed.”
Now, he says, “our relations with the Phanar are stronger than ever.”
The outlet also asked the hierarch about various moral issues. Concerning the possibility of LGBT conversion therapy, Met. Isaiah said:
Christ is love and He Himself said that the one who comes to Me I will not drive away. So, without discrimination, I love and support every person, without violent efforts and interventions in their lives. For every human being, the true word of love in Christ always brings peace and awareness of truth and peaceful relationships.
Asked whether the Church should have position on issues like abortion, cremation, euthanasia, and sexuality, and intervene politically on such issues, the hierarch of Tamassos said:
The Church respects and protects the gift of God, which is our very life, dignity and health. We always act supportively, consultatively and pray that people will be enlightened. Our concern is that human life isn’t interrupted for social reasons, but, at the same time, we shouldn’t forcibly intervene and judge people’s legitimate and personal decisions, without even having proposals to solve problems.
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