Cypriot bishops who did not recognize OCU serve with head of Cyprus Church

Archbishop Georgios reads a diptych. Behind him is Metropolitan Nikiforos of Kykkos. Photo: screenshot of YouTube channel Ι. M. Κύκκου

On July 30, 2023, the metropolitans of the Cypriot Church, who refused to recognize the OCU, participated in a joint liturgy with Archbishop Georgios of Cyprus.

During the liturgy, Archbishop Georgios of Cyprus commemorated Epifaniy Dumenko. The liturgy was attended by hierarchs who refused to recognize Dumenko, namely: Metropolitan Nikiforos of Kykkos, Metropolitan Seraphim of Zimbabwe (Patriarchate of Alexandria), Metropolitan Tychikos of Paphos, and Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol.

The service was also attended by Metropolitan Timotheos of Vostra, exarch of the Jerusalem Patriarchate in Cyprus.

It should be noted that the service was performed on the territory of the Kykkos Metropolis, in the monastery of the Kykkos Icon of the Mother of God. The reason is that on July 30, memorial services are performed in Cyprus for the deceased Archbishop Makarios III, who was President of the Republic from 1960 to 1977. Archbishop Makarios was buried near the Kykkos Monastery.

Metropolitan Nikiforos of Kykkos is one of those who did not agree with the recognition of the OCU by the Church of Cyprus.

Also, Metropolitan Tychikos of Paphos had previously refused to concelebrate with the primate because of Dumenko.

In turn, Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol of the Cypriot Orthodox Church stated that his non-recognition of the OCU is a matter of conscience and the canons of the Church.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the members of the Holy Synod of the Cypriot Orthodox Church stopped their concelebration with Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus and would not meet with him until the Synod made a decision on the recognition of the OCU.

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