Cypriot Primate explains why he changed his stance over the OCU

Archbishop Chrysostomos. Photo: akel.org.cy

Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus commented on the change in his position on the OCU expressed in the letter he sent to the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, in the summer of 2018, reports the Orthodox Times.

He commented: “When I sent the letter, I did not know some essential aspects, such as that in the Tomos of Autocephaly granted to Russia, there was a condition; the Church of Ukraine must first commemorate the Ecumenical Patriarch as the local primate, and then the Patriarch Moscow,” said the Primate of Cyprus on the air of the state TV channel.

According to him, he in no way refutes what he said in 2018.

“I do not in any way refute what I said in 2018 and, in fact, in a relevant discussion with the Ecumenical Patriarch, I was in favour of creating an exarchate in Kyiv, which will be under the jurisdiction of Moscow or creating a structure, which will belong to the Russian Orthodox Church as a commemoration of their religious roots,” emphasizes in his statement Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus.

As reported, Archbishop Chrysostomos was reminded that in 2018 he promised with all his might to support the position of the Russian Orthodox Church on the issue of the so-called autocephaly in Ukraine.

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