Greek metropolitans call on Patriarch Bartholomew to hold Council on OCU

Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. Photo: radiosvoboda.org

Metropolitans of the Greek Orthodox Church Seraphim of Piraeus, Seraphim of Kythira, Cosmas of Aetolia and Andrei of Konitsa call for the convocation of a Pan-Orthodox Council on Ukrainian autocephaly issue. They wrote a joint letter to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and representatives of the other 13 Local Churches, reports “Orthodoxtimes”.

Earlier, the head of the Albanian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Anastasios, Patriarch John X of Antioch, the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Council of the Polish Church and many other hierarchs of the Orthodox Churches raised their voice for the need to convene a Pan-Orthodox Сouncil on the “Ukrainian issue”.

On November 21, the Primate of the Jerusalem Orthodox Church, Patriarch Theophilos III, proposed to convene an All-Orthodox Conference in Jordan to discuss the autocephaly of the OCU.

The head of the Greek Orthodox Church, Archbishop Ieronymos rejected this offer, saying that only the Patriarch of Constantinople has the right to convene the Pan-Orthodox Council.

Read also

ROCOR Priest Reflects on Trip to Capitol Hill

Archpriest Victor Boldewskul participated in the Society of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco's Day of Action to raise awareness about the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Hundreds of Chinese Christians Arrested in Pre-Christmas Crackdown

Hundreds of Chinese Christians face spending Christmas in detention after authorities launched a sweeping pre-holiday crackdown on churches under Beijing’s campaign to control religious life.

Ukraine Adviser: UOC Not Banned, but Offered a 'Choice' of Jurisdictions

A Ukrainian presidential adviser said the UOC is not banned but pressured to choose between joining the OCU, submitting to Constantinople, or remaining unregistered, while dismissing international concerns as propaganda.

Indiana Reports 98% Drop in Abortions Under Stricter Law

Indiana’s latest health report shows a 98% drop in reported abortions under stricter laws, though dozens still occurred under legal exceptions and concerns persist about unreported pill abortions.

Armenian Apostolic Church Pushes Back on Political Encroachment

The Armenian Apostolic Church plans to appeal to international bodies to resist government interference and defend its clergy and sacred relics.

Attempted Takeover at Armenian Etchmiadzin Cathedral Thwarted by Faithful

Supporters of Armenian PM Pashinyan attempted to storm Etchmiadzin Cathedral amid calls for the Catholicos’s resignation but were blocked by parishioners and security.