Greek Foreign Ministry: ROC Exarchate in Africa – schism & canons violation
Andreas Katsaniotis and Patriarch Theodore. Photo: orthodoxia.info
On November 15, 2022, Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Katsaniotis said that the creation of the African Exarchate of the ROC is a schismatic act that contradicts the canons of the Church, reports orthodoxia.info.
Katsaniotis paid a visit to Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria. During the conversation, the head of the Church of Alexandria thanked the Greek Deputy Foreign Minister for supporting "missionary, pastoral, humanitarian and national work on the African continent".
In turn, Katsaniotis assured Patriarch Theodore of his continued support and stressed his role as "a great link between Greece and all African states".
The Greek Foreign Ministry representative concluded the conversation by condemning "the non-canonical incorporation of the Russian Church into the spiritual jurisdiction of the Church of Africa", saying that the creation of the Exarchate is "an unjust, arbitrary and schismatic" action "in today's troubled world, which needs the creative unity of Orthodoxy".
As earlier reported, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church urged Patriarch Theodore not to support the schism in Ukraine.
Read also
A cleric of the Rivne Diocese of the UOC visited priests serving in the AFU
Archpriest Volodymyr Pekach visited military units and training grounds, heard confessions and administered Holy Communion to priest-servicemen.
His Beatitude Onuphrius Spoke About the Spiritual Benefits of Sorrows and Illnesses
The Primate of the UOC called on Christians not to despair during trials, but to preserve love for God and their neighbors, to give thanks to the Lord, and to live in peace.
Patriarch of Serbia: The Mother of God teaches us to fully trust the will of God
Patriarch Porfirije called on the faithful to follow the example of the Most Holy Theotokos and to accept the will of God with faith, even when it is beyond human comprehension.
Amsterdam Calls on the World to Protect the Armenian Church from Government Interference
An international lawyer stated that the Armenian authorities are interfering in the internal affairs of the Armenian Apostolic Church and attempting to change its governance structure.
A new altar was consecrated in a UOC church in Svalyava, Zakarpattia
Bishop Hilariy performed the consecration of the altar in the Church of the Image Not Made by Human Hands of the Mukachevo Diocese.
Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi persecuted UOC parish marks patron feast in new church
The UOC Chancellor served the Liturgy in a church under construction to replace the seized cathedral in Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi.