Head of Cyprus Church to discuss OCU issue in Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece

Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Cyprus

In the coming days, Primate of the Cyprus Orthodox Church Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Cyprus will meet with the heads of the Serbian, Greek and Bulgarian Orthodox Churches and discuss with each of them the religious situation in Ukraine, the Greek news agency Romfea reported.

The Primate of the Cyprus Church promised to inform the head of the Albanian Orthodox Church on the course of these three meetings.

Archbishop Chrysostomos also refuted rumors that Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople allegedly requested to exclude the Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania, from discussions with the other Local Churches on the “Ukrainian issue” on the grounds that he does not express the views of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

“We did not receive such a mandate or recommendation from the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew regarding the non-participation of Archbishop Anastasios of Albania in meetings with other Primates of the Orthodox Churches on the Ukrainian issue,” the head of the Cyprus Church noted.

According to him, the Archbishop of Albania discussed the religious situation in Ukraine with three Middle Eastern Patriarchs by phone when they were visiting the island of Cyprus.

Recall, on March 30, 2019, Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania, criticized the actions of Phanar in Ukraine and declared the need to re-ordain the schismatics. “Our concern is focused completely and totally on the key issue of the ordination of bishops and apostolic succession. That is why the unfortunate role of self-proclaimed "honorary Patriarch of Kiev and All Rus-Ukraine" Filaret was noted, and theological warnings were worded regarding the validity in the Holy Spirit of ordinations, performed by him [Filaret] based on the fact that divine grace does not work when the performer is excommunicated and anathematized; and also that the canonically ordaining bishop does not act on his own strength, but on behalf of the Church – the only bearer of the grace of God. We doubt whether the reinstatement of Filaret in his priestly rank automatically makes the ordinations performed by him valid,” said Archbishop Anastasios.

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