UOC bans the priest who concelebrated with Phanar Exarch and OCU clergy
Archimandrite Gabriel receives communion from the hands of a Phanariot bishop. Photo: Facebook page of the stauropegy of the Patriarchate of Constantinople
His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine has removed Archimandrite Gabriel (Anisimov) from his position as the superior of the Stavropegial Monastery in Sevastopol and prohibited him from performing priestly duties. This decision is outlined in a decree issued by the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) on October 18, 2023, raskolam.net reports.
The reason for this action is cited as a violation of the priest's oath and the resolution of the UOC Bishops' Council from November 13, 2018, which called for the cessation of Eucharistic communion with the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Archimandrite Gabriel had concelebrated at the St. Andrew's Church in Kyiv with Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Bishop Michael of Comana and "clergymen" of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) on September 24 and October 15, 2023.
In a previous report by the UOJ, it was noted that Metropolitan Naphanail of Volyn and Lutsk had banned the priest-in-charge of the St. Mary Magdalene Church in Lutsk, Father Oleksandr Kolb, from the priesthood after his participation in a service at the St. Andrew's Church in Kyiv on September 24, 2023. Subsequently, the banned priest transferred his parish to the OCU.
Read also
BREAKING: Met. Arseny Hospitalized After Falling Ill During Court Hearing
Faithful urged to pray as proceedings in Sviatohirsk hierarch’s case continue daily.
Pat. Bartholomew: It Is a ‘Grave Sin’ To Put Politics Before Church Unity
"Those who jeopardize this unity in the name of geopolitical expediencies and base motives for acquiring earthly power—falsely cloaked in spirituality—commit an offense before God and a grave sin," the Ecumenical Patriarch said.
OCA Chancellor Visits Romania and Czech Lands and Slovakia
Archpriest Alessandro Margheritino represents Met. Tikhon at major church events and meetings with hierarchs of sister Churches.
Procession Held in Honor of St. Gabriel of Georgia
On Nov. 1, clergy, Mother Paraskeva, and Russian, Ukrainian, and Georgian faithful took part in a procession from the house of St. Gabriel the Confessor and Fool-for-Christ to the Samtavro Monastery.
Hierarchs of UOC Appeal to Zelenskyy in Defense of Met. Arseny
The episcopate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church called on Zelenskyy to stop the persecution of Met. Arseny and to ensure he receives medical treatment.
Moscow Synod Declares Day of Prayer Against Abortion
The Synod also revived the annual All-Moscow Cross Procession as a symbol of faith and unity.