Patriarch Theophilos: I don't want my comments to affect unity of Church

Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem. Photo: kurir.rs

On January 26, 2021, Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, in an interview with the Belgrade Kurir newspaper, answering a question about the OCU, said that he would not to comment in a way that may affect the unity of the Orthodox Christendom.

The journalist of the publication asked Patriarch Theophilos whose arguments (of the Russian Church or those of Phanar) he supports in relation to the “autocephaly” of the OCU and how damaging this situation is to all of Orthodox Christendom.

Answering this question, the Patriarch of Jerusalem said that “as the keeper of Christ’s Tomb and the sacred sites of the Holy Land,” he prays for the unity of all Orthodox Christians.

“My answer is clear – I pray for the unity of all Orthodox Christians, and I wouldn't want to comment in a way that might affect the unity of Orthodox Christians and of Orthodox Christendom in general,” Patriarch Theophilos said.

According to him, “It is important for all Orthodox Christians to be part of one holy, ecumenical, and apostolic church. Those who understand what a holy, ecumenical, and apostolic church means will understand well my answer to your question."

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that on February 26, 2020, in the capital of Jordan, Amman, a meeting of the Primates of Local Orthodox Churches began, which was convened by Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem.

Later, the head of Phanar sent an angry letter to Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem. 

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