Archbishop of Crete: We will never separate from the Mother Church

Archbishop Eugene of Crete reaffirmed the abiding love and devotion of the Cretan Church and the Cretan people to the Patriarch of Constantinople. Speaking from the ambo of the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Mina shortly after the Synodal Delegation returned from Phanar, he emphasized the deep connection with the Mother Church despite the problems caused by third party interference.

According to Orthodoxtimes, Archbishop Eugene noted in his speech that «our Father and Patriarch listened to our pain, heard our concerns and supported us with genuine pastoral care» in order to «dispel the clouds formed in our relationship with the Mother Church.»

The Archbishop attributed these «clouds» to the intervention of third parties who sought to disrupt this relationship. However, he made it clear that such efforts cannot change the position of the Cretan Church. «We love the Mother Church,» he emphasized, «and we cannot feel separated from her for a second.

He also emphasized that during the meeting in Phanar, the Synodal Delegation conveyed to the Ecumenical Patriarch a deep-rooted loyalty and unwavering devotion to both the Cretan Church and the people of Crete.

Recall, earlier we reported that the decisions of the Patriarch of Constantinople risk leading to a split of the Church in Crete. Some of the hierarchs do not agree with the personnel policy of Patriarch Bartholomew, in connection with which a protest potential against the Phanar is forming in Crete.