Metropolitan Klyment of Nizhyn and Priluky, UOC-MP, commented on the decision of the Synod of the Church of Cyprus to recognize the OCU.
This is reported by Orthodox Life.
The hierarch of the Moscow Patriarchate believes that the communique of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus following the discussion of the Ukrainian issue does not mean recognition of the OCU, because there is a conflict among the Cypriot hierarchs on this issue.
"Sometimes diametrically opposite information about what the Synod adopted comes from Cyprus today. The way the decision is written in the official communique – we can say that it is completely illiterate in the theological sense. The Synod did not recognize the OCU. Most synodals did not vote on this. In order to avoid an open conflict in the Church, the Synod decided, literally, not to contradict the Primate of the Church of Cyprus in memory of Epifaniy Dumenko," Metropolitan Klyment said.
In his opinion, the members of the Synod did not come to a common opinion, "by this decision they agreed only that their Primate should do what he chooses, and they will continue to adhere to their positions."
"I think that this indicates a serious internal problem that has arisen within the Church of Cyprus itself. There is a conflict, no matter how hard they try to cover it up. And it will make itself felt at every opportunity," Metropolitan Klyment said.
On November 25, the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus supported Archbishop Chrysostomos' decision to recognize the OCU.
This is stated in the Synod's communique.
"At its meetings on November 23 and 25, 2020, the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus discussed in detail the Ukrainian Church issue and the problematic situation that arose with remembering of Epifaniy by His Beatitude Chrysostomos Cyprus as the Primate of the Church of Ukraine, and decided not to oppose this decision of His Beatitude," the report says.