Greek hierarch: Many priests of Africa were against the recognition of OCU

Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus said that a significant part of the clergy of the Patriarchate of Alexandria was against the recognition of the OCU by Patriarch Theodoros, agapotonxristo.blogspot.com reports.

According to Vladyka, "the problem in Africa is much deeper than it seemed from the very beginning." He said that "a significant part of the clergy of all ranks, as well as believers, initially opposed the recognition by Patriarch Theodoros of the church formation of the Kiev schismatics and the displacement of the canonical Church under the leadership of Metropolitan Onuphry."

The Metropolitan of Piraeus recalled that initially Patriarch Theodoros did not recognize the "autocephaly" of the OCU and declared his strong support for Metropolitan Onuphry, but later there was a turning point in his usual rhetoric.

Vladyka said that "some hierarchs of the Patriarchate of Alexandria not only protested or were reluctant to recognize the Ukrainian ‘autocephaly’, but also expressed a clear-cut refusal."

“The existing rumors about a big internal problem faced by Alexandria were confirmed in the most official way,” the bishop emphasized.

According to him, “unfortunately, Patriarch Theodoros ignored these ‘protests’ and ‘refusals’ (against the recognition of the OCU – Ed.) by the metropolitans and other clergy of the Church of Alexandria, and instead of convening a Synod to resolve the issue of the gravest importance, he chose to recognize the Ukrainian autocephaly, thus violating the Synodal system.”

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that according to Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus, Patriarch Bartholomew caused an unprecedented turmoil in Orthodoxy. 

Read also

In Ukraine, Trump’s 'spiritual advisor' reassured of religious freedom

Pastor Mark Burns stated that Ukraine, despite the war, is a "beacon of religious freedom."

Lavra brethren congratulate Metropolitan Pavel on 31 years as abbot

The monks of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra have expressed hope that they will soon be able to pray again with their abbot.