Hierarch of Georgian Church: Only believers can claim autocephaly
Metropolitan Andrew (Gvazava) of Gori and Ateni
The hierarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Andrew (Gvazava) of Gori and Ateni believes that the Orthodox believers of Ukraine have the right to demand autocephaly for the Church. But all this must necessarily develop in the canonical way and in no other way, reports his words patriarchia.ru.
Giving an assessment of the actions of the Constantinople Patriarchate and representatives of the Ukrainian authorities in terms of autocephaly, the hierarch called this issue "very difficult and sensitive for the entire Orthodox Church", which "must be approached with great caution."
“I think that this approach with caution definitely involves the need to learn the opinion of other Churches on this issue,” said Vladyka Andrew. “Does Ukraine have the right to claim autocephaly of the Church? We believe that the Orthodox, believing people of Ukraine, have this right, but this must be the fullness of the clergy, the fullness of the bishops and believers of the Church, and all this must necessarily develop along the canonical course but not in any other way.”
The hierarch added he did not know when the Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church would be held, which would take any decision on the “Ukrainian issue”.
As reported by the UOJ, Schiarchimandrite Job (Grishchenko) of Zverinetsky Monastery of Archangel Mikhail in Kiev, appealed to the Georgian Orthodox Church to support the UOC during the persecutions and not recognize the schismatic OCU.
Read also
Shevchuk tells Budanov of UGCC’s “state-building role”
The head of the Uniates told the head of the Presidential Office that his Church was ready to partner with the state and presented him with a book on the work of special services in the Church.
Authorities decline to disclose Ukraine’s population size
The State Statistics Service acknowledged that it has up-to-date population estimates for the country, but has decided not to make them public.
Lithuanian govt vows to protect Orthodox Church from Russian intelligence
Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry has called for curbing the influence of Russian intelligence services on the Church, while an adviser to President Nausėda warned against labeling the entire structure a security threat.
During Ramadan, Patriarch Theodoros hosts Islamic iftar at his residence
Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria hosted a meal for Muslim workers breaking their fast in the courtyard of the Patriarchate and thanked a sheikh for his “brotherhood.”
Lawsuit filed against Patriarch of Constantinople
A Turkish official has accused Patriarch Bartholomew and dozens of clergy of “illegal activity” and violating the Treaty of Lausanne.
OCU cleric buried with Church Slavonic funeral shroud
In the Ternopil Eparchy of the OCU, a cleric was buried under a funeral shroud bearing inscriptions in Church Slavonic.