Met Isaiah: We will study Fanar's arguments on ordinations of OCU hierarchy
The bishop said that during his visit to the Phanar, he was presented with legal and historical arguments that allowed the Phanar to recognize the OCU.
Metropolitan Isaiah of Tamassos of the Cypriot Orthodox Church said that he would carefully study the new information regarding the canonicity of the ordinations of the OCU, which he received during his visit to the Phanar, reports the Romfea publication.
According to Metropolitan Isaiah, who had previously opposed the recognition of the OCU by the Cypriot Church, Patriarch Bartholomew treated him "with paternal love and great understanding."
“We were really impressed with his open heart and kindness. With great patience, both he and his assistants, who are experts in this matter, explained to us in detail the position of the Patriarchate of Constantinople on this issue. They gave us several answers through legal and historical treatises, which we will study very carefully,” said the Metropolitan of Tamassos.
He noted that “just a few days ago, His Eminence Gregory Fragakis, the Archsecretary of the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Throne, prepared a brilliant scientific study on the canonical origin of the ordinations of Ukrainian bishops, who were recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.”
"We believe this study will clarify and shed much light on this thorny issue, which has been the main reason for our reservations, as well as the reservations of many other bishops in Orthodoxy."
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that Metropolitan Isaiah was among the bishops of the Cypriot Church who called on Archbishop Chrysostomos to immediately revoke the recognition of Epifaniy Dumenko.
In an open letter, these hierarchs wrote that the “’primate’ (Epifaniy Dumenko – Ed.) of the Ukrainian Church, proclaimed by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, does not have any canonical ordination, because he comes from the breakaway groups of the Ukrainian Church.”
