Orthodox Council in Crete will not consider Ukrainian parliament’s message

Source: TASS

June 20, 2016

    

The Ukrainian parliament’s message to Patriarch Bartholomew I, of Constantinople, containing a request for recognizing the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as autocephalous will not be considered by Orthodox Council in Crete, opening today, Archbishop Job, of Telmessos, who represents the Patriarchate of Constantinople at the Council, told the press service of the Synodal Information and Enlightenment Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under the Moscow Patriarchate in an interview.

"The Ukrainian issue is not on the Council’s agenda and the agenda cannot be changed," Archbishop Job said, adding that the Ukrainian parliament’s message was being discussed at length on the sidelines of the Council.

He explained that the Ukrainian parliament’s message became known from mess media reports.

"When Patriarch Bartholomew I has an official request, it will be discussed on the basis of the proper official procedures - through the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, just as any other major issue," the website quotes Archbishop Job as saying.

Preparations for the Council, originally conceived as a pan-Orthodox, lasted (with certain pauses) for more than half a century. The heads of the 14 local churches meeting in Crete today represent a smaller part of the Orthodox world. The Bulgarian church, the Patriarchate of Antioch (Syria), and the Georgian and Russian Orthodox Churches have refused to participate in the Council on the conditions proposed by the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Daily meetings under the chairmanship of the Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew I will be held till June 25.

On June 16, the Ukrainian parliament asked Patriarch Bartholomew to grant autocephaly to the Orthodox Church in Ukraine. The resolution was carried by a 238 majority vote (while the required minimum is 226 votes). The Ukrainian parliament wants the act of 1686 (on the transfer of the Kiev metropolitan to the Moscow Patriarchate) to be declared void for it allegedly violated the holy canons of the Orthodox Church. There has been no response from the Ecumenical Patriarch yet.

TASS

6/20/2016

See also
Russian Orthodox Church finds Ukrainian Rada's initiative to be gross violation of law Russian Orthodox Church finds Ukrainian Rada's initiative to be gross violation of law Russian Orthodox Church finds Ukrainian Rada's initiative to be gross violation of law Russian Orthodox Church finds Ukrainian Rada's initiative to be gross violation of law
The Moscow Patriarchate has sharply criticized Verkhovnaya Rada deputies who recently issued an address to the Patriarch of Constantinople calling for recognition of the independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from Moscow. Rada calls on Ecumenical patriarch to give autocephaly to Ukraine's Orthodox Church Rada calls on Ecumenical patriarch to give autocephaly to Ukraine's Orthodox Church Rada calls on Ecumenical patriarch to give autocephaly to Ukraine's Orthodox Church Rada calls on Ecumenical patriarch to give autocephaly to Ukraine's Orthodox Church
The Verkhovnaya Rada calls on Patriarch Bartholomew to invalidate the act of 1686 according to which the Kiev metropolitan was allegedly, "in violation of canons," attached to the Moscow Patriarchate. Ukrainian Rada drafts bill permitting parishes to determine future of church by voting Ukrainian Rada drafts bill permitting parishes to determine future of church by voting Ukrainian Rada drafts bill permitting parishes to determine future of church by voting Ukrainian Rada drafts bill permitting parishes to determine future of church by voting
In line with the bill that implies amendments to Ukrainian law on the freedom of conscience, and religious organizations, any outsider can consider himself a member of a certain parish and vote for its transition to another jurisdiction.
Comments
Carol6/21/2016 12:48 pm
Will the request by the Ukrainian church cause further division with the Russian church?
Anthony6/20/2016 9:23 pm
Isn't it time the Phanar practises what he preaches, by not sticking his nose into other Orthodox jurisdictions' affairs. He has been very quick to tell the Russian Church to stay out of Athonite affairs. He should do the same in the Ukraine whose Church is an integral part of the ROC, unless of course he wants to accept into his dwindling flock, neo-nazi thugs who, since the western overthrow of Ukraine's democratically elected pro-Russian govt., have been attacking and killing Russian Orthodox priests. The Phanar has absolutely nothing to consider so Job should not be making statements to say that the Phanar will consider this request at some point in the future.
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