Patriarch Theodore tells why he began to commemorate Epiphany Dumenko

Briefing by Patriarch Theodore in Cyprus. Photo: aviketos.com

At the end of his week-long stay in Cyprus, Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa commented on the reaction of the Russian Orthodox Church to the autocephaly granted to the Ukrainian schismatics and explained why he began to commemorate the head of the OCU. He spoke about this at a briefing after meeting with President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades on September 17, 2020, according to the website aviketos.com.

Answering the question of journalists about the termination of the Eucharistic communion of the Moscow Patriarchate with the Constantinople after the granting of autocephaly to the OCU, Patriarch Theodore noted that this is definitely a "wrong reaction".

He recalled that in November 2019, he commemorated Epiphany, “Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine”, at the liturgy, since “he wanted to express support for our Ecumenical Patriarchate and the right of the people of Ukraine to have their own autocephalous church.”

“I believe that over time we will see the problems more and more clearly, and all Churches will eventually come together to see that the unity between us and the ministry of the peoples of the earth prevail,” added Patriarch Theodore.

As reported by the UOJ, the visit of the Patriarch of Alexandria to Cyprus took place from 11 to 18 September. During the week-long trip, the head of the Alexandrian Church had scheduled meetings with the leadership of Cyprus and individual metropolitans of the Cyprus Orthodox Church. Two bishops, with whom Patriarch Theodore wanted to meet, had gone into lockdown due to the contact with the people who were diagnosed with coronavirus.

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