The issue of recognizing Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and all Ukraine as the head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine will not be put to the vote of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, which will meet on November 23.
This was stated by Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Cyprus, answering questions from journalists, Blagovest info reports citing TASS and Cyprus Mail.
According to Cyprus Mail, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus said that he would preside over the Synod meeting, which will be dedicated to his decision to remember Metropolitan Epifaniy at the Divine Liturgy, but at the same time made it clear that no vote on this issue among the high hierarchs would ever take place despite that fact it was so much propagated by some church circles.
At the same time, the Head of the Church promised to convey to the members of the Synod his thoughts why he essentially recognized the OCU with this mention.
On October 24, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, Archbishop Chrysostomos II of New Justiniana and all Cyprus, during the common Synodal Divine Liturgy at the Monastery of Our Lady Chrysorogiatissa, in the city of Pathos, for the first time during the Great Entrance, mentioned in the diptych the name of Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and all Ukraine as the Primate of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
As RISU has reported, several hierarchs of the Church of Cyprus opposed the recognition of the OCU. They have stopped concelebrating with Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus and do not attend liturgies with his participation.
On November 23, the Synod of the Archdiocese of Cyprus will be held, where the main issue will be Ukrainian.