Greece: Clergymen who anathematized OCU do not belong to GOC
Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus. Photo: fanarion.blogspot.com
On March 25, 2021, the Metropolitanate of Piraeus of the Greek Orthodox Church declared that the priests Angelos Angelakopoulos and Matthew Vulcanescu, who anathematized Dumenko and the OCU, do not belong to the Church of Greece. The Metropolitan's response was published by fanarion.blogspot.com.
The metropolitanate claims that Protopresbyter Angelos Angelakopoulos moved from the Piraeus diocese to the Metropolitanate of Kithira, from where he left at the beginning of 2020 and is now a "private person".
Protopresbyter of Romanian origin Matthew Vulcanescu, according to the Metropolitan of Piraeus, went to the Archdiocese of Western Europe of the Russian Orthodox Church under the omophorion of Metropolitan John of Dubna and "announced that he would serve in Great Britain."
Consequently, according to the diocese of Piraeus, both priests do not belong to the Piraeus Metropolitanate of the Greek Church.
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that on March 21, 2021, on the Feast of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, the cleric of the Greek Church, Protopresbyter Angelos Angelakopoulos, anathematized the OCU and its leader Epiphany Dumenko.
Later it became known that Dumenko and the OCU were also anathematized by Protopresbyter Matthew Vulcanescu.
Both priests used to serve in the Metropolitanate of Piraeus, the head of which, Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus, is one of the most adamant opponents of the recognition of the OCU by the Church of Greece.
Metropolitan Seraphim believes that Epiphany Dumenko is a layman, while the head of the canonical Church in Ukraine is His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry.
Read also
Patriarch Theophilos addresses believers with words of support ahead of Pascha
The Primate of the Church of Jerusalem, in a video address, highlighted that even in conditions of war, Christians are not abandoned by God and place their hope solely in the Resurrection of Christ.
Muslims of Russia call war with Ukraine "sacred jihad"
The Mufti of Chechnya stated that all Islamic religious leaders should be ready to stand alongside RF soldiers.
Kyiv UOC Eparchy holds aid drive for children and people with disabilities
In Boyarka, Kyiv region, more than 50 families received food and clothing as part of a charitable outreach held on the eve of the feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem.
New monastics tonsured at Putyvl’s Molchensky Convent
The ruling bishop of the Konotop Eparchy performed a monastic tonsure.
US Protestant Churches hold Easter events with drone shows and spectacles
Protestant communities in the United States marked Easter with large-scale events featuring drones, helicopters, and spectacle-driven shows aimed at drawing people in and conveying the Gospel message.
Temporary church of persecuted UOC community burns down in Telchi
In Volyn, a fire has effectively destroyed the building where the faithful had been praying after their church was seized.