Cypriot Primate informs Phanar about recognition of OCU secretly from Synod

Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus. Photo: cityoflarnaka.com

On October 23, 2020, the day before the Divine Liturgy, at which the Primate of the Cypriot Orthodox Church for the first time made a liturgical mention of the name of the head of the OCU, Epiphany Dumenko, Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus sent a letter to Phanar announcing his decision. The letter itself was written in advance, secretly from the Holy Synod, as evidenced by the publication on the website of the Church of Cyprus on October 25.

In the letter addressed to Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, the archbishop said that he could no longer act as a mediator on the Ukrainian issue and "had to take a position".

“Yesterday afternoon (Friday, 23.10.2020) I sent a letter. Although I had kept it ready for two months, I didn't send it. If he (Patriarch Bartholomew – Ed.) does not publish it today or tomorrow, I will publish it, because I want the Cypriot people and all the bishops to know my views on Orthodoxy,” the Primate was quoted as saying on the website of the Cypriot Church.

At the same time, he admitted that he had made a statement on the recognition of the OCU without the consent of the Holy Synod, without saying anything to anyone.

As reported by the UOJ, on October 24, 2020, Archbishop Chrysostomos II for the first time commemorated the name of the head of the OCU Epiphany Dumenko during the Divine Liturgy. At the same time, the Primate of the Cyprus Church said that his position on the OCU "will serve Orthodoxy".

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