Greek hierarch calls not to pray with schismatics from OCU

Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythira and Antikythera. Photo: pravoslavie.ru

Metropolitan Seraphim (Menzelopoulos) of Kythira and Antikythera of the Greek Orthodox Church believes that the “Ukrainian question” should be considered at the Pan-Orthodox Council, and until then it is impossible to pray with representatives of the OCU, reports the "RIA Novosti" agency with reference to the Greek edition "Vima Orthodoxias".

According to Metropolitan Seraphim, the bestowal of “autocephaly” to the OCU was illegal as the decision was made under pressure and caused by geopolitical interests.

The Greek hierarch is convinced that the wisest solution in this case would be to consider the “Ukrainian issue” at the Pan-Orthodox Council of Primates and representatives of the Local Churches.

In addition, the metropolitan urged the hierarchs of the Local Orthodox Churches not to take part in joint services and prayers with schismatics from the OCU: “Honoured hierarchs should not serve together, pray together and have church communion with schismatics, who were not accepted by almost any autocephalous Orthodox Churches, but wait for the decision of the Holy Synod of Hierarchs, who elected them, ordained and placed on the throne,” says Vladyka.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that in the service in honor of the martyr Kirana of Ossia, held in the Langadas Metropolis of the Greek Orthodox Church, Bishop Chrysostomos (Karangunis) of Mozambique, Alexandria Patriarchate, was confronted with the fact of the concelebration with the representative of the OCU Vladimir Shlapak.

Read also

UOC priest of Odesa Eparchy released from TRC

The rector of the Holy Trinity Church of the UOC in the village of Troyandove was detained in the TRC for five days.