ROC stops commemoration of Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus in diptychs

Archbishop Chrysostomos. Photo: ria.ru

The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church at its meeting on November 20 decided to stop the commemoration in diptychs, prayer and Eucharistic communion with the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, Archbishop Chrysostomos, because of his commemoration of the head of the schismatic OCU Epiphany Dumenko among the Primates of the autocephalous Orthodox Churches.

Also, the Synod resolved to stop concelebrating with those hierarchs of the Cypriot Church who will enter into church communion with representatives of the OCU, according to the press service of the ROC.

The liturgical mention of Epiphany Dumenko took place on October 24, 2020 at the Divine Liturgy at the monastery of the Most Holy Theotokos Chrysorrogiatissa (near Paphos), after which Archbishop Chrysostomos admitted that he had not agreed his decision with the members of the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus.

In this regard, it is emphasized that the decision to commemorate the head of the OCU was made by the Primate of the Cypriot Church alone, without the consent of the members of its Synod, therefore, it lacks a conciliar character.

According to the decision of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, a number of bishops of the Cypriot Church condemned the act of Archbishop Chrysostomos for “gross violation of the conciliar, collective and democratic structure of our Orthodox Church and the way the Cypriot Orthodox Church functions on the basis of this system” and called on him “to immediately abolish his anti-canonical and invalid act."

As reported by the UOJ, Archbishop Chrysostomos alone, contrary to the previous decision of the Synod of his own Church, recognized the so-called "Orthodox Church of Ukraine" commemorating its "primate" at the Liturgy, which caused divisions within the Church of Cyprus.

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