Cypriot hierarch: Russian Church Exarchate in Africa eventuated due to OCU
Metropolitan Isaiah of Tamassos noted a direct link between the creation of the Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church in Africa and the Ukrainian issue.
The Bishop of the Church of Cyprus, Metropolitan Isaiah of Tamassos and Orinis, brings up the reasons for the creation of the Exarchate of the ROC in Africa, linking them to the creation of the OCU, in a statement published on the website of the Metropolitanate headed by him.
“The statement of the Moscow Patriarchate on the creation of its Exarchate on the territory of the Alexandrian Patriarchate is a clear side effect of the Ukrainian issue, which continues to evolve with unpredictable consequences. After the Ukrainian issue came to the fore, the trust between our Churches was shaken,” said Metropolitan Isaiah.
The Cypriot bishop expressed his fear that the crisis in Orthodoxy would deepen further.
“I have a feeling, about which I would like to be mistaken, that as we move on, after the distrust caused by the ecclesiastical crisis in Ukraine, a number of Orthodox countries do not find agreement on a number of issues with each other. Instead of dialogue and reconciliation before final decisions are made, as was done in the past, and without a pan-Orthodox settlement, they are likely to adopt unilateral decisions, which will not be supported by all Churches, thereby deepening the split between them,” said Metropolitan Isaiah.
Earlier, Metropolitan Isaiah stated that the ROC had never interfered in the affairs of the Cyprus Church.
