ARCHBISHOP OF CYPRUS: MY DECISION TO COMMEMORATE METROPOLITAN EPIFANIY FIRST SERVES ORTHODOXY

 

orthodox times

 

The Church of Cyprus recognizes the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, said today Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus after the ordination of Bishop Pagkratios of Arsinoe at the Monastery of Panagia Chrysorroiatissa.

During the ordination of the new Bishop of Arsinoe, Archbishop Chrysostomos commemorated Metropolitan Epifaniy for the first time as primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, sparking controversy among members of the Holy Synod who had not been informed beforehand.

It is noted that the Metropolitan of Limassol left shortly before the end of the service with Archbishop Chrysostomos saying that his reaction was justified.

As reported by Cyprus News Agency, in his statements, Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus stated that his decision served the Orthodoxy and the Church of Cyprus. It may be against certain people, he said, but what interests the Archbishop himself is Orthodoxy.

He said today, “I commemorated the new Primate of Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Epifaniy. Since last year, we have notified the Ecumenical Patriarch that we would maintain a neutral position and dedicate ourselves to serving Orthodoxy through the primates of various autocephalous Churches.”

I had to take a position, he continued, although the Holy Synod disagreed with him, while acknowledging that the members of the Holy Synod were not aware of his current decision to commemorate Metropolitan Epfaniy of Kyiv. One said that a member of the Holy Synod left at the end of the service, stating that, if he were him, he would leave as soon as he heard the Archbishop himself, commemorating Metropolitan Epifaniy.

He also said that he admired his patience in waiting for so long. The Archbishop of Cyprus stated that his move served first the Orthodoxy and then the Church of Cyprus. He estimated that all the predecessors, including Kirill, admitted that he was right.

He added that if any member of the Holy Synod asked for the issue to be discussed within the framework of the Charter, he would convene the Holy Synod after sending a letter to the Ecumenical Patriarch, upon which he would expound at the Holy Synod.

He estimated that the Holy Synod will accept the content of the letter to the Ecumenical Patriarch —if not unanimously— by a majority. As he explained, his stance serves the Church. His stance may, he said, not serve individuals but serves the Church.