LAST UPDATE: 19:20
By Kostas Onisenko
The Russian Church will not commemorate the name of Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Cyprus because of the recognition of the Autocephalous Church of Ukraine and the commemoration of Metropolitan Epifaniy by the Archbishop.
This issue was the first in a series of topics discussed today during the Holy Synod of the Russian Church.
In particular, the minutes of the Synod mention, among other things, the history of the recognition of the Autocephalous Church of Ukraine by Archbishop Chrysostomos, underlining the reaction of the four hierarchs to this decision.
“The participants in the meeting of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church expressed their deep regret over the inappropriate commemoration in the diptychs of the Orthodox Prelates of the leader of one of the schismatic Ukrainian groups, which testifies Archbishop’s communication with the schismatics”, is highlighted in the decision of the Synod of the Russian Church.
It was also stressed at the meeting that the mentioned decision was taken by Archbishop Chrysostomos voluntarily, without agreement with the members of the Holy Synod of the Cypriot Orthodox Church “and therefore does not have a synodal character”.
The minutes of the meeting emphasize that “the present decision of Archbishop Chrysostomos contradicts his official statements on the Ukrainian issue, that is, that the Archbishop of Cyprus will support the positions of the Russian Orthodox Church.”
The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church declared that it is impossible to commemorate the name of Archbishop Chrysostomos II in the diptychs, prayers, as well as co-officiating with those hierarchs of the Cypriot Church who will enter into ecclesiastical communication with representatives of the Ukrainian schism” is mentioned in the minutes of the Synod.
