Archbishop of Cyprus convenes Synod over Ukrainian issue
This is reported by Religijna Pravda citing Orthodox Times.
The Synod is expected to consider all issues that have recently been relevant for the Church of Cyprus, first of all, the issue of mentioning Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv at the liturgy, that means recognizing the OCU.
As religious columnist Tetiana Derkach notes on her Facebook page, a meeting of the Synod of the Archdiocese of Cyprus on the Ukrainian issue is scheduled for November 23.
"According to the Cypriot press, Chrysostom is gaining a majority. The sources report the support of the Metropolitans of Kittia, Paphos, Constance-Famagusta, Arsinoe, Kitras, Karpasia, and Mesaoria. We hope for the support of the Metropolitans of Trimifunt and Lefkar and Kyrenia. Together with the Archbishop – 10 Metropolitans for us,” she notes.
Several metropolitans and members of the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus have suspended concelebration with Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus. They will not attend liturgies with his participation until the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus considers the Ukrainian issue. This was stated by one of the four pro-Moscow hierarchs of the Church of Cyprus, Metropolitan Isaiah of Tamas, to the Phileleftheros newspaper.
Metropolitan Isaiah said that the Church of Cyprus was on the verge of a potential schism, and added that it depends on Archbishop Chrysostomos whether the situation will be back to normal. When asked to explain, Metropolitan Isaiah said that the Archbishop of Cyprus could convene a Holy Synod to discuss the issue raised by his mention of Metropolitan Epifaniy.
Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Cyprus spoke extremely sharply on November 2 regarding the position of four members of the Synod of the Archdiocese of Cyprus – Metropolitans Athanasius of Limassol, Nikephoros of Kykkos, Isaiah of Tamas, as well as Bishop Nicholas of Amat. He opposed the recognition by the Archbishop of autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and establishing the canonical communion with it. He condemned these bishops, whom he considers worthy of defrocking.
