HOLY AND GREAT COUNCIL DOCUMENT

Draft Synodical Document

Δευτέρα 16 Δεκεμβρίου 2019

ARCHBISHOP OF CYPRUS: I TOLD PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW HE WOULD NEVER BE FIRST AMONG ORTHODOX PRIMATES

 

In an interview for the newspaper “Politis,” Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus strongly criticized the pro-Russian stance of Metropolitans of Limassol, of Kykkos and of Tamasos regarding the issue of the imminent schism, who were in breach with the decisions of the Holy Synod not to take an official position.

“The Holy Synod has already decided. You must respect it. Now they had an isolated conference with the Russians while the Holy Synod was convened and decided on the Ukrainian autocephaly issue to remain neutral. And they speak at the conference and take a position against the Ecumenical Patriarchate. They are unbelievable. Well, the Holy Synod has already decided. Respect this decision. They are not even ashamed. The easiest is to punish and reprimand them. Unless they start to reform, you are in the same boat…,” he said characteristically.
The Archbishop of Cyprus also criticized the Patriarch of Moscow describing him as unacceptable for refusing to concelebrate or wanting to cease commemorating the Archbishop of Athens and the Patriarch of Alexandria.
“He is going to create a schism. And the schism is the greatest sin. I do not understand it. He wants to be the first. I told him you would never be the first. Over the past 17 centuries, the Patriarch of Constantinople has been established as first among all Eastern Orthodox primates. Full stop. We must not turn a blind eye. You must understand it. But selfishness does not let him see clearly,” said the Archbishop.