In an interview with a TV channel, Metropolitan Anthimos of Alexandroupolis referred to the fact that the Ecumenical Patriarchate granted autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
He was asked to comment on the recognition of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine by the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the conflicts that exist between some Christians. The Metropolitan of Alexandroupolis said: “My advice to Christians is to care more about their souls and less about geopolitics. We are neither politicians nor diplomats but faithful people. There are political and geopolitical issues about which the Church has to make some decisions but they do not concern the Christians.” “Unfortunately, Christians, instead of praying and showing their love, tent to use such geopolitical, political, economic, and diplomatic events in order to divide each other,” he added.
He also referred to the attempt of the Russian Patriarchate to question the universality of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and to claim leadership of the Orthodox world. In particular, the Metropolitan of Alexandroupolis stressed: “These tactics hurt us, the Greeks. The Russian Orthodox Church tried to “erase” the Ecumenical Patriarchate. In other words, it tried to overthrow the ecclesiastical order that has existed for two thousand years and to take things in hand in relation to the universality of Orthodoxy.”
He pointed out, “This is not an Orthodox Christian trait and, therefore, we can not be receiving political support and taking any geopolitical approach. If the sacred ecclesiastical order that prevailed for so many years is overthrown, ultimately, all Orthodoxy will be overthrown, because all peoples will be demanding to take the lead.”
Regarding the issue that arose regarding the Church of Skopje, Metropolitan Anthimos expressed his opinion and highlighted: “It remains to be seen in which direction God will steer things. Anyway, they are Orthodox Christians too. We are sensitive but the situation must be handled with courtesy and evangelical gentility not with cruelty, war, hatred and evil.”