Metropolitan Anthony of Borispol and Brovary, Managing Director of the UOC, comments.

Greek media reported that Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus commemorated Epiphanius Dumenko, the head of the «OCU», at the service. Thus, it is alleged, the recognition of the mentioned religious organization by the Cypriot Orthodox Church took place.

How should you react to this information?

Firstly, you should wait for the official confirmation or refutation of the data submitted in the media.

Secondly, if, nevertheless, this information corresponds to reality, then it should be emphasized that what happened is not the position of the Cypriot Orthodox Church, which is represented only by its Synod, but only the sole decision of one person. Let the Primate convicted by the power.

Thirdly, it is necessary to wait for the reaction of other bishops of the Cypriot Church to what happened, and only on the basis of this reaction to form an assessment of what happened.

Fourth, it should be noted that the interests of politics and geopolitics continue to interfere in the affairs of the Church. Unfortunately, both the universal unity of world Orthodoxy and individual Orthodox Churches become a victim of such a process. After all, some decisions made under the dictation of the powers that be and factors that are far from faith in God do not lead to healing the schism. On the contrary, they only provoke new divisions. And this will have extremely serious consequences. Since, as St. John Chrysostom said, «making divisions in the Church is no less evil than falling into heresies…».