Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol: My decision on the OCU hasn't changed

Metropolitan Athanasios (far left) at a joint service with Archbishop Chrysostomos. Photo: romfea.gr

On November 18, 2021, Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol of the Cypriot Orthodox Church stated that he had not changed his position on the OCU, Romfea reported.

Metropolitan Athanasios issued a statement explaining his participation in the joint Liturgy with Archbishop Chrysostomos and other hierarchs of the Cypriot Orthodox Church who recognized the OCU.

Referring to recent media reports that the concelebration with the head of the Church of Cyprus means that "Metropolitan Athanasios has changed his position on the Ukrainian issue," the bishop stressed that his participation in the ministry did not in any way mean that he agreed to the recognition. Epiphany as the head of the Ukrainian Church, since the approval of Dumenko in this capacity "occurred contrary to the canons".

“I personally went to the Cathedral of the Apostle Barnabas to pray at a service in honor of the Angel day of the archbishop. I participated there in the ministry with the sole motive of seeking the unity of the Church, the members of the Holy Synod and its Primate,” the bishop wrote.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that members of the Holy Synod of the Cypriot Orthodox Church would cease their concelbration with Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus and would not meet with him until the Synod had made a decision on the recognition of the OCU.

According to Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol of the Cypriot Orthodox Church, his non-recognition of the OCU is a matter of conscience and canons of the Church.

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