On May 18, in Nicosia (Cyprus), a meeting was held between the four leaders of the local Churches, which belong to the so-called Pentarchies: the Patriarchates of Alexandria, Jerusalem and Antioch, along with the Archbishop of Cyprus.
On May 18, in Nicosia (Cyprus), a meeting was held between the four leaders of the local Churches, which belong to the so-called Pentarchies: the Patriarchates of Alexandria, Jerusalem and Antioch, along with the Archbishop of Cyprus.
At the meeting the Ukrainian issue was also considered. The leaders abstained from open support of the Russian Orthodox Church and did not put forward to the Ecumenical Patriarch any additional conditions for resolving the Ukrainian church conflict. As a result of the meeting, a communique was published, the main topics of which were highlighted by Cerkvarium.
1. During the meeting, the leaders prayed for peace, for the stability of the local Holy Churches and, in particular, for the long-suffering Middle East. It was emphasized that there was a need for maximum efforts to ensure stability in the Middle East, and the most important church issues relating to intensification of Christian presence in the region and the deepening of cooperation between local Churches in order to achieve the above-mentioned goals were discussed.
2. During a separate meeting between the two Churches of Antioch and Jerusalem, there was an exchange of views on the problem of the old conflict between them for Qatar, they expressed their intention to overcome these difficulties as soon as possible in order to achieve the desirable Eucharistic communion.
3. The Primates also discussed the problems that arose after the provision of autocephaly to the Orthodox Church in Ukraine. At the same time, three Primates expressed their desire to join the mediation initiative, which at one time was proposed by the head of the Cyprus Church. The leaders called to work, on the one hand, on the achievement of the eucharistic unity, and on the other hand, on the protection of the faithful and temples from any acts of violence, regardless of their sources, or any reasons and motives that might cause them.
4. The Primates expressed regret in relation to the absolute indifference of the states and the powers that be to the fate of the two Metropolitans of Aleppo, Paul Yazidzh and Ioan Ibrahim, who were abducted six years ago.
5. The Primates emphasized that despite the difference in views among the local Churches, the Orthodox Church remains unified and continues its salvatory course in the world.