Greek hierarchs initiate Pan-Orthodox Council without Fanar's participation

Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus. Photo:yiorgosthalassis.blogspot.com

The hierarchs of the Greek Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus and Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythira and Antikythera, wrote a joint letter urging all Primates of the Local Orthodox Churches to convene a Pan-Orthodox Council on the “Ukrainian issue”. This was reported by Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus to the Greek online publication ΒΗΜΑ ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΙΑΣ.

All Local Churches will receive a letter in the coming days, since the “Ukrainian issue” shook the foundations of the Orthodox Church throughout the world. According to ΒΗΜΑ ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΙΑΣ, hierarchs are calling to convene the Pan-Orthodox Council even without the participation of Patriarch of Bartholomew of Constantinople.

The Metropolitan of Piraeus noted that the unprecedented legalization of schismatics in Ukraine is a crime.

“It is completely unacceptable to assert that the unity of the Church is achieved through ‘reinstatement’ and admission of unrepentant apostates, anathematized and not ordained, secret conspirators and schismatic persons,” His Eminence Seraphim emphasized and reminded that only the Pan-Orthodox Council can have the power to grant autocephaly.

According to the hierarch, not a single Patriarchate recognizes the so-called “new Ukrainian Church”, whereas the Council of Bishops of the Church of Greece made an error of a historical scale.

The ordinations of the OCU “clergy” are invalid, therefore the bestowal of the Tomos to them is a serious problem.

Metropolitan Seraphim also made it clear that he personally had never agreed with the recognition of the OCU.

 “My phrase ‘I disagree but support the archbishop’ was distorted beyond recognition,” he shared with the Greek edition.

Earlier, Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythira and Antikythera also announced that he hoped to convene an All-Orthodox Council on the “Ukrainian issue”, at which the Synaxis of the Primates would discuss the current situation, find a solution to the problem and prevent further schism in Orthodoxy.

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