Urgent: Greek Orthodox Church recognizes autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine

At an extraordinary meeting on October 12, the Council of the Greek Orthodox Church recognized the autocephaly of the OCU. The decision was adopted under the chairmanship of the Head of the Council and the Primate of the Church of Greece, His Beatitude Archbishop Hieronymus. This is a historic decision for the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. One of the largest Orthodox Churches in the world has officially confirmed the legality of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew's actions to grant autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

At an extraordinary meeting on October 12, the Council of the Greek Orthodox Church recognized the autocephaly of the OCU. The decision was adopted under the chairmanship of the Head of the Council and the Primate of the Church of Greece, His Beatitude Archbishop Hieronymus. This is a historic decision for the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. One of the largest Orthodox Churches in the world has officially confirmed the legality of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew's actions to grant autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

The message of the Greek media outlet Romfea goes as follows:

“During the session of the Council, Archbishop Hieronymos delivered a report “Information about the Autocephalous Church of Ukraine". He referred to the privilege of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to grant autocephaly, as well as the positive recommendations of the two Committees. He proposed to recognize the autocephaly of the Church of the independent state of Ukraine - the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

Then the bishops made proposals. Bishop Daniel of Caesarea proposed to pass the decision after a clear vote. The hierarchy of the Greek Church finally decided to ratify the recent decision of the Permanent Holy Synod and agreed that the Ecumenical Patriarch had the right to grant autocephaly to the OCU."

The official announcement of the Holy Synod of the Greek Church is expected soon.

Note that the decision to discuss the Ukrainian issue at an extraordinary meeting after the Council of the Greek Orthodox Church, which was held on October 8-11, was taken to comply with certain procedural traditions.

As RISU has reported, the “Ukrainian question” was already previously heard in August by the Holy Standing Synod of the Church of Greece, which took note of the reports of the two Synodal commissions on the issue of Ukrainian Church autocephaly.

The Synod then stated that the Ecumenical Patriarch enjoys the right to proclaim autocephaly of local Churches (while the ROC insisted that this should be done only with the consent of all local Churches).

Also, the Greek Synod then confirmed the right and privilege of Archbishop Hieronymus to deal solely with the issue of recognition of the OCU. However, it should be noted that the first Hierarch of the Greek Orthodox Church decided to share with all the hierarchs of the OCU the responsibility for the decision. This happened today, October 12, in Athens. Thus, the OCU received the first official recognition among the Orthodox Churches of the world.

The decision on the recognition of the autocephaly of the OCU was especially important as the ROC and the UOC-MP were exercising significant pressure. As reported, the representatives of the UOC-MP arrived to Athens on the third day of the Bishops' Council of the Greek Church to distribute the books among the Greek bishops about the alleged forcible seizure of UOC-MP Churches in Ukraine in favor of the OCU.

The brochure entitled "Reverse side of Tomos" was issued by the Russian-backed "Union of Orthodox Journalists". It was even translated into Greek. The cover of the book features phrases like "Tomos Brings Civil War" and "Atheists Seize the Temple."