Greek theologian calls on Local Churches to defend UOC
Greek theologian Protopresbyter Anastasios Gotsopoulos. Photo: UOJ
Greek priest and theologian Anastasios Gotsopoulos, in an article on the Greek section of the UOJ titled “‘Ukrainian Autocephaly’ Has Failed”, called on Local Churches to defend the millions of UOC believers.
According to him, the statistics from the State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS), which claim that only 12% of parishes have transitioned to the OCU (a figure he considers highly exaggerated), “confirm beyond any doubt that the demand for autocephaly did not come from the people of God in Ukraine (the clergy, monks, and faithful), but from other centers serving different goals.”
"We call upon and urge the ecclesiastical leadership of the Orthodox Churches to set aside ethno-phyletistic considerations, rise above the situation, and support the persecuted canonical Church of Ukraine and its millions of faithful by all means. It is unacceptable that the Anglican Church is raising its voice in protest while Orthodox leaders remain silent," the theologian stated.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that, according to Protopresbyter Anastasios Gotsopoulos, the people of Ukraine did not accept the OCU, and the project has failed.
Read also
Dumenko "blesses" SBU facility for forensic examination
The head of the OCU noted the "special role" of the Institute of Special Technology and Forensic Expertise of the SBU.
ROC head: Attempts to impose special powers of Pat. Bartholomew are sinful
Patriarch Kirill stated that the doctrine of special powers of the Patriarch of Constantinople is being imposed from outside.
Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announces LGBT festival near Sodom and Gomorrah
Israeli authorities are promoting a large-scale gay event at the Dead Sea on social media, which has caused criticism and bewilderment among Christians.
In Bila Tserkva, man nearly killed for greeting "Christ is risen!"
Two non-Orthodox individuals aged 19 and 23 tracked down a 35-year-old Orthodox Christian after an Easter greeting, knocked him down and inflicted several knife wounds to his abdomen and neck.
In Uganda, Islamists kill Protestant pastor after sermon
In Uganda, a Protestant church pastor who preached among Muslims was stabbed to death after a sermon.
Spanish court rules Jehovah’s Witnesses may be called a “destructive sect”
A court in Spain has upheld the right of critics of Jehovah’s Witnesses to speak openly about the group’s alleged harmfulness and danger to society.