by Romfea.news
Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium talks about “shadows” during the great Feast of Orthodoxy, on Sunday of Orthodoxy, in his message.
As he points out, “this year, our common testimony at the great Feast of Orthodoxy will be shadowed.” The reason is that the Patriarchate of Moscow terminated the unity with the Mother Church, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, in celebrating the Mysteries.
He also refers to Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania, who stated that the decision of the Russian Church is very worrying, explaining that it is inconceivable to use the Holy Communion as a weapon against another Church.
Archbishop Anastasios also wondered whether the decision of the Hierarchy of the Russian Patriarchate can cancel the grace of the Holy Spirit in the parishes of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, as Athinagoras indicates in his message.
Τhe Metropolitan of Belgium also mentions that Anastasios pointed out that such decisions can not be accepted. The Divine Eucharist must be respected and not associated with ecclesiastical conflicts.
Metropolitan Athenagoras also quotes the statements of Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia, who voiced dissatisfaction and disquiet at the decision of the Russian Church following the proclamation of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
It is certain, the Metropolitan of Belgium highlights, that the consequences of the Moscow’s decision are particularly tangible in the Orthodox diaspora, where all Orthodox Christians are called upon to cooperate.
He also calls everyone to pray for the unity of the Orthodox Church, and the Russian Church to “change its decision as soon as possible, so that all Orthodox Christians will celebrate united the great celebration of the Resurrection of Christ.”
