Limassol’s Athanasios furious with Archbishop of decision on Ukraine Church   

Limassol Bishop Athanasios said Monday he was disappointed with the decision taken by the head of the Church of Cyprus Archbishop Chrysostomos to recognise the independence of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine without previously securing the agreement of the Holy Synod.

Bishop Athanasios said the issue was first raised at the Holy Synod by Archbishop Chrysostomos on September 9, specifying, however, that all participants at the time were against it.

According to Athanasios, the archbishop then said he that he was going to respect the synod’s opinion.

Instead, said Athanasios, during Saturday’s mass, the Archbishop recognised the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, a statement with which the other bishops had not agreed on.

“I decided to leave the church immediately because I did not want to say anything I would regret.

“I want to make it clear that the Church of Cyprus is administered by the Holy Synod. Neither the Archbishop, nor the Holy Synod can decide by themselves,” he said.

Athanasios also said that the correct thing to do at the moment would be to convene the Holy Synod, adding that the Bishops of Kykkos, Tamasos, and Amathounta also agreed with him.

Autocephaly refers to those churches which are not, in any way, dependent upon any other church, or churches, for their life and mission.