Albanian archbishop comments on his position regarding OCU

Archbishop Ioannis. Photo: Press Service of the Albanian Church

The newly elected Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Ioannis, explained his stance on the issue of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), according to the Union of Orthodox Journalists in Albania, citing Ethnikos Kirikas.

The Archbishop said that the Albanian Church deeply regrets the current ecclesiastical situation in Ukraine. In his words, “It is a true tragedy that has divided many Churches.”

“Our position has already been clearly stated in the decisions of our Synod. There is nothing more we can add to that,” he emphasized, adding that “Archbishop Anastasios had the gift of foresight and understood where everything was heading.”

“I believe he acted very diplomatically. He sought compromise and accepted proposals from both sides,” Archbishop Ioannis said.

In order to overcome the division among the Churches, he noted, “goodwill is necessary.”

As a reminder, Archbishop Anastasios and the Synod of the Albanian Church have, since 2019, issued numerous consistent statements criticizing the legalization by Constantinople of Denysenko, Maletich, and their followers. The UOJ analyzed these in the article ‘The Testament of Archbishop Anastasios of Albania Regarding Ukraine’.

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