Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou: Onuphry is canonical, Epifaniy is not

Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou. Photo: screenshot from the YouTube channel Ομιλίες Μητροπολίτου Μόρφου

Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou of the Church of Cyprus stated in an interview with Romanian priest Ciprian Mega that His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry is the canonical Primate, while Epifaniy Dumenko is not.

The interview was published in Russian on the YouTube channel Ομιλίες Μητροπολίτου Μόρφου on December 29. However, the description indicates that the metropolitan gave the interview on August 8, 2024.

Reflecting on the concept of canonicity in the Church, Metropolitan Neophytos noted that "at the Divine Liturgy, everything becomes evident – who is canonical and who is not."

"For example," he said, "Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv is canonical. Epifaniy is not canonical," emphasized Metropolitan Neophytos.

He explained that the canonicity of Metropolitan Onuphry and the non-canonicity of Epifaniy Dumenko can be discerned during the Liturgy: "Where is this seen? At the Divine Liturgy – whom I commemorate and whom I do not."

Earlier, the Union of Orthodox Journalists reported that, according to Metropolitan Neophytos, Cypriot hierarchs are unwilling to serve with members of the OCU.

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