Expert: Bartholomew's preparing chrism with OCU will show schismatics-to-be

The expert predicted the exacerbation of the split. Photo: UOJ

The Patriarchate of Constantinople announced that the rite of preparation of chrism would be held in April 2022 with the participation of representatives of other Local Churches and the so-called OCU. This event will show the true preferences of those Churches that will take part in it and will determine a new alignment of forces in the Orthodox world. This opinion was expressed to TASS by Arkady Maler, a member of the Synodal Biblical and Theological Commission and the Inter-Council Presence of the ROC.

The expert emphasized that if representatives of the OCU participated in the rite, all other representatives of the Local Churches would get into the “risk zone”. Indeed, according to ecclesiastical canons, a bishop or priest who concelebrated with a cleric who fell into a schism is a participant in the schism himself.

“Patriarch Bartholomew understands that not all Churches have recognized Ukrainian schismatics, so it is more than likely that he will invite them to this rite as an independent, separate, autocephalous church. Therefore, either the so-called primate of the OCU, Epifaniy Dumenko, or some of his representatives will most likely participate in the chrism preparation rite. Thus, all participants in the sacrament would be 'anointed' by schism,” Maler noted.

In his opinion, in this situation, everyone will have to make up their minds, since to remain neutral, trying not to spoil relations with either Constantinople or Moscow, will not work.

He recalled that many Local Churches continue to receive sacred myrrh from the Patriarchate of Constantinople as a tribute to the tradition, according to which the See of Constantinople was the first among equals in the Orthodox world. The Russian, Georgian and Romanian Orthodox Churches brew myrrh on their own, which can be done by any autocephalous church.

Arkady Maler regarded the receipt of myrrh from Constantinople as an infringement of the sovereignty of the Local Churches and a path to their dependence on Constantinople.

“Of course, each of them can refuse it at any moment. There will be no canonical violation here. All the more so in a situation when the Patriarchate of Constantinople claims full supremacy in Universal Orthodoxy,” Maler emphasized.

The rite of preparation of chrism – a special fragrant mixture of oils, resins and herbs, which is used in the sacrament of Anointment and other holy rites, was held for the last time in 2012. According to the ancient custom, it is performed by some Churches on the Holy Week, but not annually.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that African clerics are threatened with defrocking for moving to the Russian Orthodox Church.

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