Metropolitan Symeon of Nea Smyrni expressed concern about the situation created in Orthodoxy following the decision to grant autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
The Metropolitan also expressed concern about the debate on that matter by the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece.
In a letter to Archbishop Ieronymos and the members of the Hierarchy the Metropolitan pointed out, “This issue is extremely serious […] In my humble opinion, the recognition or non-recognition of the autocephaly falls under the exclusive competence neither of the president nor of the Standing Holy Synod, but of the Holy Synod of the Hierarchy. […] I humbly ask you not to press ahead with any decision […] If the further attitude is not constructive, the Ukrainian issue is at risk of seriously undermining the unity of our Orthodox Church.