By Efi Efthimiou
One of the most widely read articles published by orthodoxtimes.com, titled “What sources from Phanar and Kyiv reveal to Orthodox Times about the situation in Ukraine”, caused considerable stir in both Ukraine and Constantinople.
There was significant feedback from Ukraine, overwhelmingly positive, regarding the content of the article, from individuals belonging to all jurisdictions of the Orthodox Church, according to the reliable information that reached our newsroom.
However, the article and its contents, which were carefully verified through journalistic cross-checking, displeased His Eminence Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, who went so far as to send a legal notice (extrajudicial declaration) to orthodoxtimes.gr and the undersigned author.
In his legal declaration, Metropolitan Emmanuel expressed the view that the analysis presented in the article “suffers from a lack of knowledge and a comprehensive understanding of ecclesiastical and geopolitical developments.”
The Elder of Chalcedon is of course entitled to his opinion about what was written, just as all our readers are. However, His Eminence must also acknowledge the right of journalists to conduct research, verify information, and publish articles that may not necessarily align with his perspective or sources.
It is worth noting that Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon had also expressed dissatisfaction in the past with other articles published by orthodoxtimes.com and orthodoxtimes.gr.
He had conveyed his displeasure more than once through the Director of the Press Office of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, to such an extent that we were left wondering whether the Press Office Director was acting solely as a representative of Metropolitan Emmanuel. We never encountered similar objections when our site covered other hierarchs of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
His Eminence’s demand that the article in question be taken down cannot be accepted. Our sources are accurate, verified, and continue to provide us with new updates about developments in Ukraine.
In fact, orthodoxtimes.com and orthodoxtimes.gr will soon publish additional articles on the evolving situation within the Orthodox community in Ukraine, a subject we have been closely monitoring and covering for years, with strong reader engagement.
What particularly encourages us to continue this effort is the reception the article received in Ukraine, especially from members of all Orthodox Churches, who described it as reporting that “reflects reality.”
Lastly, from its inception, for over six years now, orthodoxtimes.com has supported the efforts of Ukrainian Orthodox Christians to unite under a single Church. This vision remains aligned with that of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for the future of Ukraine.
It is a vision that orthodoxtimes.gr and orthodoxtimes.com embraced and supported from the very beginning.
Therefore, the motivations attributed to us by Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel, that this article “conceals hidden agendas”, as well as claims of “inaccuracies” and “false information,” do not in any way concern or apply to us.
What is described in the article is the result of thorough research and cross-verification from multiple sources, and is certainly not intended to harm Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, whose role is, among other things, referenced in the text.
