Greek hierarch: OCU divided the Synod, the Council of Bishops is next

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

Metropolitan Seraphim (Menzelopoulos) of Kythira and Antikythera of the Greek Orthodox Church said that the Tomos deeply split Ukrainian society, Local Orthodox Churches, Mount Athos and the Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church, reports "RIA Novosti", citing the Greek edition “Vima Orthodoxias”.

According to Metropolitan Seraphim, the “Ukrainian issue” divides the Church as a whole. The hierarch is sure that the Patriarch of Constantinople did not have the right to decide on granting the Tomos to the OCU since this act invaded the canonical territory of the Russian Church, which has had the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under its jurisdiction for more than 300 years. Such cases, according to Metropolitan Seraphim, are considered only at the Ecumenical Council.

The Greek hierarch also said that “The hasty solution (of the Ukrainian issue), under pressure from secular figures, the powerful, for the sake of promoting geopolitical and geostrategic projects, divided deeply Ukrainian people, divided the autocephalous Orthodox Churches, because together they disagree with the non-canonical bestowal of autocephaly to Ukraine, divided the Permanent Holy Synod, divided the Holy Mountain, will divide the Council of Bishops."

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythira and Antikythera urged the hierarchs of the Local Orthodox Churches not to participate in joint prayers with schismatics from the OCU.

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