Τhe controversies do not cease since the decision of the Archbishop of Cyprus to recognize the autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine, commemorating Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine.
Shortly after the decision of the Archbishop, came the reaction of four Metropolitans of the Church of Cyprus, who expressed their strong opposition to the decision of Archbishop Chrysostomos.
The statements of Metropolitan Nikiforos of Kykkos were on the same wavelength, who spoke on the Cypriot television channel RIK and stated that Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus “despised and set aside the Holy Synod”, as well as that he took action against the sacred rules and the charter.
Commenting on the Archbishop’s recent interview in a Cypriot newspaper in which Archbishop Chrysostomos had spoken harshly about the four Archpriests; he said that “we wrote our questions in broad daylight. We are not conspirators. We are both responsible and humble. But when the Holy Rules and the Charter are violated, we are obliged to react.”
Asked by a journalist on the accusations of defending Russian interests, he replied: “I see it and I am disgusted. I am very sorry; we are neither pro-Russian nor pro-American. We are not ashamed to say that as orthodox people we always have our eyes on Russia. But we stand with the sacred rules and the charter of our church. When they act according to the sacred rules and the charter then our soul rejoices and we support them. But when the sacred rules, the charter, the timeless ecclesiastical tradition and the canonical order and practice are violated, then we react. And we must react because following the voice of our Episcopal conscience, God forbid if we remained silent. Then we would be accomplices.”
