The Phanar criticized the Patriarchs of Jerusalem and Antioch for refusing to participate in the celebrations in Nicea

Archimandrite Gerasimos Frangoulakis of the Patriarchate of Constantinople harshly criticized the Patriarchs of Antioch and Jerusalem for their refusal to participate in the celebration of the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicea. In his view, this absence, especially against the backdrop of the expected presence of the Pope, is not just a formality, but a step that belittles the role of the ancient Patriarchates and their historical contribution.

In his article published in Φως Φαναρίου, the author emphasizes that the non-participation of the Primates in such a significant event is «not just a formal absence». It marks the loss of voices that carry the experience of Orientalism, multiculturalism, tolerance and martyrdom. The Archimandrite reminds us that the Patriarchates of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem are the four oldest pillars of the Orthodox Church.

Archimandrite Gerasimus argues that by their stance, the Patriarchs of Antioch and Jerusalem are «self-aggrandizing themselves to the level of leaders of ‘institutions’ with administrative and ceremonial roles.» He contrasts this with their true vocation to be Primate of the Orthodox Churches who bear living witness to the faith in difficult times. Such a position, the author says, risks «erasing the memory of the contribution of their Patriarchates to the history of the Church and the world.»

The article emphasizes that these Patriarchates are not just historical institutions, but «living beacons of spirituality» that have kept the flame of Orthodoxy alive for centuries despite countless trials. Their ministry in the heart of the Holy Land is not an administrative duty, but a witness of love, peace and sacrifice. Their voice, the voice of Christians living under persecution and instability, is essential to the Church’s universal witness.

Recall, earlier we reported that the meeting of the head of the Roman Catholic Church and Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople in Nicea in November 2025, timed to coincide with the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council, causes serious concern in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Metropolitan Luke of Zaporizhzhya and Melitopol said that this event could become not just a dialog on unity, but a stage for the creation of a new church union under the auspices of Rome and the Phanar, which poses a direct threat to canonical Orthodoxy in Ukraine.