Metropolitan of Cyprus: What is related to Tomos is not related to God
Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol. Photo: vladivostok-eparhia.ru
The situation with the Tomos and autocephaly in Ukraine will pass, because what is connected with it has nothing to do with God, the hierarch of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, Metropolitan Athanasios (Nikolau) of Limassol, said on the air of the Pershy Nezalezhny channel.
Commenting on the ecclesiastical situation in Ukraine, Vladyka Athanasios noted that the creation of the OCU and the related persecution of the UOC are not joyous.
“It felt wrong with me from the beginning,” he said. “I am very sorry about what is happening now in Ukraine. We must understand that this will pass over time. After all, what is associated with the Tomos and autocephaly has nothing to do with God and will pass eventually. God will control everything and it will return to its place. We must understand that there are church canons, whereby non-canonical bishops cannot be recognized as canonical. "
The Cypriot hierarch noted that the canonicity of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry is beyond doubt.
"He is the one whom we have recognized up to this moment recognize now," he stressed.
“I believe that there was wrong action on the part of another church. We must believe that God will settle everything, that the canons are primary, and one day everything will be fine,” added Metropolitan Athanasios.
As reported by the UOJ, the Head of the Church of Cyprus threatened the hierarchs who did not recognize the OCU.
Read also
Church celebrates feast of Holy Foremost Apostles Peter and Paul
On July 12, the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul, the Apostles' Fast (Peter's Fast) comes to an end for Orthodox Christians.
UGCC cleric criticizes OCU head for awarding Greek Catholic officials
Hieromonk Yustyn Boiko of the Lviv Archeparchy called the awarding of church honors to officials a profanation and cited the example of an OCU order presented to a Greek Catholic official.
Expert who found no defamation in Dumenko’s remarks to face disciplinary action
An Interior Ministry research center has confirmed disciplinary measures against the expert whose findings supported what the Metropolitan’s representatives described as unfounded accusations by the OCU head against Metropolitan Theodosiy.
European Parliament condemns forced Islamization of children in Pakistan
The European Parliament has called on Pakistan to establish a mechanism to protect Christian families.
Church of the Presentation damaged by shelling in Russia’s Kursk Region
The newly built church in the village of Kulbaki, Glushkovo District, was completely gutted by fire after being struck by a projectile.
UOC priests take part in celebrations at Romania’s Putna Monastery
Clergy of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy took part in a festive service at the ancient shrine of the Romanian Orthodox Church.