Earlier, we reported that the Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (BOC), Patriarch Daniel, spoke on a number of topical issues related to the unity of Orthodox and Catholics and relations with the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Patriarch Daniel paid special attention to the issue of recognizing the Ukrainian schism. The head of the BOC is convinced that the recognition of the OCU by the Patriarchate of Constantinople is not a reason to break relations with Phanar.
Phanar hierarch on UOC bishops: "How can you be considered a canonical Church if you do not commemorate anyone?"
Archbishop Elpidophoros of America (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Patriarchate of Constantinople) criticized the Primate and the bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The hierarch claims that the Church cannot be considered canonical if it refuses to commemorate its Patriarch. At the same time, Elpidophoros suggested that if the bishops of the UOC do not want to commemorate the Patriarch of Moscow, they can raise the name of the Patriarch of Constantinople during the services. Such a step, in his opinion, will ease tensions between the UOC and Phanar and will be a way to resolve the church conflict in Ukraine. He said this in an interview with the YouTube channel Viche.
«Now I hear that the hierarchs of the Church (UOC — Ed.), which is outside the autocephalous Church (OCU — Ed.) in Ukraine, are asking us for help. They appeal to the Ecumenical Patriarch for help. The Ecumenical Patriarch is ready to help them, but how can you ask for help from someone whose authority you do not recognize and question his jurisdiction? Since these hierarchs, and possibly Metropolitan Onufriy himself, refuse to commemorate the Patriarch of Moscow, how can they claim to remain a canonical Church? How can you be considered a canonical Church if you do not commemorate anyone?» the bishop said.
Archbishop Elpidophoros added that the Patriarch of Constantinople could intervene in the Ukrainian church crisis, but this requires the actual restoration of prayerful communication between the UOC and Phanar. To do this, he suggested that the hierarchs of the UOC begin to commemorate Patriarch Bartholomew as the first in status in world Orthodoxy.
«How can you expect any canonical status to be granted to you by the Ecumenical Patriarch, who has the historical and canonical right to grant you canonical status, if at the same time you deny his authority? I think that the first step — if someone needs the help of the Ecumenical Patriarch — is to accept his authority and start commemorating him. You cannot be an Orthodox hierarchy without commemorating anyone,» he added.
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