Patriarch Theophilos: Everything must be done to solve anomaly in Church

Patriarch Theophilos at the church of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem. Photo: orthodoxianewsagency

On June 21, 2021, Patriarch Theophilos, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, said that Orthodox Christians need to do everything in their power to “overcome the anomalies of church life,” reports the Orthodoxia News Agency.

After the service in the church of the Holy Trinity of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, addressing the bishops, clergy, laity and guests of honor who took part in the holiday, Patriarch Theophilos noted that the joint celebration of the Liturgy is “a clear demonstration of the unity of our Orthodox Church in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

“This unity, which finds its expression in communion in the Chalice, is the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, governing the whole life of the Church. Thus, today we live in the same indestructible unity that was given to the Church at Pentecost,” the Patriarch said.

The Primate of the Jerusalem Church emphasized that "our unity – the gift of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost – is crucial, since our unity in itself is the fruit and testimony of the truth of God."

“In everything must we strive to overcome our human weaknesses and temptations that threaten our unity and must allow the Holy Spirit to enlighten our minds and dwell in our hearts ... We are called to do everything in our power to overcome any anomalies in church life that our human weakness and sinfulness can so easily cause,” stressed Patriarch Theophilos.

The Primate of the Jerusalem Church believes that “all Orthodox believers, as well as the heads of our Orthodox Churches, are obliged to obey to the unity of the Holy Spirit. In a world torn apart by human divisions, fear, prejudice and selfishness, the Church must live a different life if we want to fulfill our mission,” concluded the Patriarch.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the Russian Orthodox Church hopes for a meeting in the "Amman format" after the restrictions are lifted.

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