Constantinople hierarch calls on UOC to begin commemorating Pat Bartholomew

Patriarch Bartholomew. Photo: Orthodox Observer

Archbishop Elpidophoros of America has called on the Primate and hierarchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to begin commemorating Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, so that he may have grounds to provide assistance to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

“I now hear that hierarchs of the Church that is outside the autocephalous church in Ukraine – certain hierarchs – are in need and are asking for help. They are turning to the Ecumenical Patriarch for assistance. The Ecumenical Patriarch is ready to help them. But how can you ask someone for help if you do not recognize his authority to help you, if you question his jurisdiction to assist you?” the hierarch of Constantinople asked.

According to him, “the first step must be that, if someone needs the help and authority of the Ecumenical Patriarch, they accept his authority and commemorate him.”

The archbishop urged the UOC to cease its criticism of Patriarch Bartholomew. He believes that “when we criticize or in any way call into question the authority, the right, and the prerogative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to assist Local Churches and to grant them autocephaly or autonomy, it is like shooting ourselves in the foot.”

“Therefore, if we truly want to move forward and achieve progress in the church situation in Ukraine, I believe that the hierarchs under the omophorion of Onufriy – and he himself, Metropolitan Onufriy – if they truly mean what they say about dialogue with Constantinople, must begin with commemorating the Patriarch of Constantinople, that is, commemorating him during divine services,” Archbishop Elpidophoros stated.

According to him, this would prove that the UOC “accepts his – Patriarch Bartholomew’s – authority and recognizes his right to offer support” to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Until the UOC does this, “all these appeals to the Ecumenical Throne for help have no foundation and are not convincing.”

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Archbishop Elpidophoros criticized the UOC for not commemorating Patriarch Kirill.

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