Primate of the Albanian Church on the solution of the Ukrainian church crisis: "The only side is with Christ and the truth"

The Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church, Archbishop John, made important statements regarding the current Ukrainian church crisis, which intensified after the creation of the OCU by the Patriarchate of Constantinople. In his interview, he emphasized the categorical rejection of choosing sides in the conflict, calling for solutions through love and dialogue, while maintaining commitment to Christ and the truth.

As it became known from his interview with the YouTube channel «UOJ in America,» Archbishop John rejected the growing pressure in the Orthodox world to determine affiliation with «the side of Constantinople or Moscow.» He firmly stated: «We are one Holy Catholic Apostolic Church. The only side is always with Christ and with the truth.» In his opinion, the creation of «sides» inevitably leads to division and «war» within the Church, while differences should be resolved through love and constructive dialogue.

The Primate of the Albanian Church confirmed that his Church «firmly adhered to its position on the issue of the *Tomos of autocephaly* of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.» At the same time, despite the principled position, the Albanian Church maintains good relations with all parties to the conflict. The Archbishop emphasized that the goal is not to choose between the «good» and the «bad», but to find a solution that will be acceptable to all, avoiding categorical statements that could destroy unity.

He particularly noted the wisdom and true Christian position of his predecessor, Archbishop Anastasios, whose goal was «to preserve the unity of the Church and to speak the truth in love, as the Apostle Paul commanded.» The Primate recalled the importance of not only speaking the truth, but doing so with love, emphasizing that excessive categoricality in a family or the Church can lead to destruction, and the presence of different opinions should not become an obstacle to love and finding a common solution.

Earlier, the Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Archbishop John, spoke about the Ukrainian church issue. The first hierarch drew attention to the fact that the creation of the OCU split world Orthodoxy, noting that the Synod of the Albanian Church expressed its position on this issue and it remains unchanged.