Greek theologian accuses GOC Primate of betrayal and aggravation of schism

Archbishop Ieronymos and Epiphany Dumenko. Photo: Romfea

We are moving towards a serious and terrible schism, triggered by Archbishop Ieronymos, asserts a Greek theologian, former representative of the Greek Orthodox Church in the European Union, Protopresbyter Nikolaos Savvopoulos. He stated this in an interview with RIA Novosti commenting on a peace missive sent on the eve by the Primate of the Church of Greece to the head of the OCU Epiphany Dumenko.

“We are witnessing the aggravation of treachery and schism – Ieronymos-initiated split. He thinks he expresses the opinion of parishioners and priests but he decided on his own. I know the opinion of the priests who feel betrayed by all this,” said the clergyman.

He emphasized that this letter of recognition made the Church of Greece to be the first to officially recognize the OCU.

“He (Archbishop Ieronymos – Ed.) is the first Primate to recognize the schismatic church. No one else has recognized it so far,” added the Protopresbyter noting that “now we are moving to a serious and terrible split.”

At the same time, he agrees with the position of the Department for External Church Relations of the UOC, which called the recognition of the OCU by the Church of Greece “backstabbing” and is convinced that many Greek priests will object to such a decision made by the Primate of the Church of Greece.

“We expect a comprehensive and substantial response to Ieronymos’s decision. Epiphany was excommunicated and has no ordination, therefore, he loses baptism. It was a big mistake of the Greek Primate,” he concluded.

Recall, on the eve the OCU reported that on October 28, Epiphany Dumenko had received a peace missive from the Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church, Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, which testifies to the actual recognition of the OCU. In this connection, the UOC DECR issued an official statement in which it informed that the Holy Synod of the UOC will make the decision on the possibility of further Eucharistic communion and con-celebration with the clergy of the Greek Church.

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