Met. Neophytos: Cypriot hierarchs unwilling to serve with OCU members

Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou. Photo: UOJ

Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou, in an interview with the UOJ, stated that Cypriot hierarchs do not want to serve with OCU members because they consider them schismatics.

The bishop of the Church of Cyprus mentioned Metropolitan Nikiforos (Kykkotis) of Kykkos, who did not recognize the OCU and wrote a book about the Ukrainian schism.

"But other hierarchs of the Church of Cyprus have already concelebrated with the 'hierarchs' of Epifaniy at the Phanar and in other places. There is a difference from bishop to bishop. Some may agree with the position of the Archbishop of Cyprus out of respect for the Ecumenical Patriarchate but in no way wish to concelebrate with the 'bishops' of Epifaniy. They consider them either non-ordained or schismatic. This is because the so-called 'hierarchy' of Epifaniy is an artificially created structure that, instead of resolving the Ukrainian ecclesiastical problem for the Ukrainian people and all of us, has only greatly complicated this problem," said Metropolitan Neophytos.

According to him, the Ukrainian schism is a spiritual problem of global significance.

"You understand that this is a spiritual problem of global significance that can only be resolved by an Ecumenical Council and the preceding war that is already underway and will only intensify over time. And it is this war that will provide a way out of the impasse. First, there will be war and then the subsequent famine, epidemics, and so on, and then those who survive will gather for the Ecumenical Council," he added.

As previously reported, the bishop of the Church of Cyprus stated, "Today, Metropolitan Onuphry represents the truth in Ukraine."

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