Metropolitan Anthony: Ukrainian schismatics remain graceless
It is forbidden to hold services and prayers with members of the UOC KP and UAOC, emphasized UOC Chancellor, Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich).
The clergy and laity must remember that the schismatics of Ukraine remain graceless. This was announced by the Chancellor of the UOC, Metropolitan Anthony of Borispol and Brovary, who was commenting to the Information and Education Department of the UOC on the decision of the Synod of the Constantinople Church of 11 October, 2018.
“In reality, nothing has changed for our Church,” said Metropolitan Anthony. “We were, are and remain the only canonical Church in Ukraine. We do not recognize the Stavropegion, the re-establishment of which was proclaimed by the Phanar. By accepting the schismatics, Patriarch Bartholomew does not make them canonical but he himself sets out on the path of schism. The schismatics remained dissenters. They've received neither autocephaly nor tomos. And it seems that they have lost even that independence, albeit non-canonical, which they used to have and to lay an emphasis on.”
Also, Metropolitan Anthony noted that what happened at the Synod in Istanbul shocked the entire Orthodox world.
“The Patriarchate of Constantinople seems to have deliberately taken the path of splitting World Orthodoxy,” the hierarch emphasized. “Patriarch Bartholomew ignored the calls of the Local Churches to convene a meeting of Primates in order to work out a common and conciliar solution to the Ukrainian ecclesiastic issue and unilaterally made very crucial but erroneous decisions. I hope that the World Orthodoxy will give an objective assessment of this act.”
His Eminence Anthony once again stressed that the schismatics remain graceless just like they have been before.
“Accordingly, it is forbidden to serve and pray with them. The time has come when we all need to strengthen our prayers, remembering that God's truth is invincible,” the hierarch concluded.
Recall, on October 11, the Synod of the Constantinople Church decided to “proceed to the granting autocephaly to the Church of Ukraine”. Besides, the Synod reinstated the leaders of schismatic religious organizations – head of the UOC KP Filaret and head of the UAOC Makariy – to their hierarchical rank and declared on reestablishing its Stavropegion in Kiev.
