In his message, Archbishop Veregia Ambrosios, Rector of the Theological School of Moscow, expressed his fierce opposition to the visit of Metropolitan Paul of Odessa, of the Autocephalous Church of Ukraine, to Mount Athos.
Archbishop Ambrosios, commenting on the visit of Metropolitan Paul, noted the following: “In front of our eyes, one by one the Monasteries of Mount Athos is united with the schismatics, committing therefore an inconceivable treason against the Orthodox people in Ukraine, who are persecuted, threatened, beaten and expelled from their churches”.
“The Monastery of Xenophon, Pantokrator and New Esphigmenou have already joined the schismatics and self-ordained, shaking hands with the persecutors of the Church in Ukraine”, the Archbishop Ambrosios added characteristically.
It has to be noted that Metropolitan of Odessa, Paul, of the Autocephalous Church of Ukraine, has taken a permit from the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the so-called official permission of Holy Community.