Panorthodox Synod, An International Forum for Theological Reflection and Discussion on the Holy and Great Council and Ecumenical Dialogue
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HOLY AND GREAT COUNCIL DOCUMENT
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Draft Synodical Document
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Πέμπτη 12 Δεκεμβρίου 2019
ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH: DISPUTED AS IT MAY BE BY SOME, THE AUTOCEPHALY OF THE CHURCH OF UKRAINE IS A FACT
“This year was especially important for the Mother Church of Constantinople because at its very beginning we had the blessing of God to grant as Ecumenical Patriarchate the Tomos of Autocephaly in our sister, now, Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” the Ecumenical Patriarch highlighted after the Divine Liturgy, at which he presided today, Thursday, December 12, at the celebration of Saint Spyridon, Bishop of Trimythous, in the omonymous Patriarchal and Stavropegic Skete in Halki. “Disputed as it may have been and still is by some,” continued the Ecumenical Patriarch, “it is now an ecclesiastical fact, recorded as a historical one, and this young sister Church of ours has been added to the list of the Autocephalous Churches.”Photo credit: Ecumenical Patriarchate
The Patriarch, on the occasion of today’s celebration, referred to
the life of the Wonderworker Saint Spyridon and especially to his
simplicity and humility.
“And we wish for world peace, which is disrupted in many parts of the
world, far and wide, and human blood is unjustly shed, the blood of
young people. Therefore, our Church will not stop praying for world
peace.”
Photo credit: Ecumenical Patriarchate
Right afterwards, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew introduced
Metropolitan Panteleimon of Maroneia and Komotini who was present and
urged him to address spiritual words to the congregation.
Metropolitan Panteleimon, who shepherds one of the Exarchates of the
Throne, in the so-called “New Lands,” referred to today’s feast but also
to the importance of the doctrines in our Church, which “are not mere
legal formalities but have a soteriological dimension.”
The Metropolitan of Maroneia pointed out that “staying within the
Church and obeying their Christian Bishop wherever they are is
preferable to any differentiation. I want to ask you, Your All-Holiness,
to wish us all, clergy and lay people, to be united and faithful to the
tradition of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, which the
Holy Great Church of Christ that you drive steadily, guards with great
faithfulness and militancy.”
