The leader of the Church of Cyprus, Archbishop Georgios III, has expressed confidence that all local Churches will eventually recognize the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
“Although other Orthodox Churches may currently delay recognition due to factors beyond canonical or ecclesiastical matters, likely related to Russia’s size and economic influence, we are confident that all Churches will soon acknowledge the rights of the Ukrainian Church within the Orthodox community,” said the Archbishop, according to panorthodoxsynod.blogspot.com.
He also reaffirmed the fact that the Church of Cyprus recognizes the autocephaly of the OCU, granted by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
“The Church of Cyprus acknowledges the autocephaly granted to the Ukrainian Church by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Orthodox institutions recognize that the Ecumenical Patriarchate has historically granted and continues to grant autocephaly to churches previously under its jurisdiction. Ecumenical synods have determined that northern regions, Asia Minor, and Europe fall within the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate,” said Georgios III.
“The first autocephaly granted by the Ecumenical Patriarchate was to Russia, followed by Greece, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, and other countries. Thus, when Ukraine gained independence and requested autocephaly, it was granted by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. It is worth noting that during the grant of autocephaly to Russia, the Ecumenical Patriarchate defined the geographical boundaries, excluding Ukraine,” he noted.
In accordance with the “moral and ecclesiastical rules” prevailing in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Georgios III said, the Church of Cyprus recognizes the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s action in granting autocephaly to Ukraine.
