Bishop Victor: Most of the monasteries of Athos are against the recognition of the OCU

The Greek clergy harshly criticizes the recognition by the Greek Church of the OCU, and a necessary condition for staying in most monasteries of Athos is belonging to the UOC.

Vicar of the Kiev Metropolis, Head of the Representation of the UOC to European International Organizations Bishop Victor (Kotsaba) on your page telegram stated that most of the monasteries of Mount Athos oppose the recognition of the OCU.

According to him, the Athonite monks told about this to the pilgrims of the UOC who visited Athos.

“The monasteries of Karakal, Filofei, Konstamonit, Panteleimona, Khilandar, Zograf, Dokhiar are categorically opposed to the recognition of the Ukrainian schism. In private conversations, the abbot of the monastery, Vatoped Ephraim, also speaks out against the recognition of the OCU. The majority of the cells and sketes of Athos insist on the same position, ”wrote Bishop Victor.

“It is interesting that during a conversation with the monks of the Simonapetra monastery, whose abbot supports the OCU, representatives of the UOC heard the following words:“ we understand you, but you also understand us. ” In other words, the monks of Simonapetra hinted that they are hostages of certain circumstances, therefore their “sympathy” for the OCU is dictated by these circumstances, and not by their own convictions, ”he added.

Bishop Victor noted that belonging to the UOC is a prerequisite for staying in a monastery, cell or skete of Athos, at the same time, most of the Athonite monks are very unhappy with the possible prospect of the OCU representatives settling on the Holy Mountain and are ready to do everything in their power to prevent this …

“For example, Abbot Konstamonita refuses to issue documents to representatives of the OCU, and in the cell, which is located in the immediate vicinity of the skete of St. Anna, our pilgrims were directly asked which Metropolitan they remember during the service. Hearing the name of His Beatitude Onuphrius, the monks declared that he was the only and canonical Metropolitan of Kiev, Primate of the Ukrainian Church, ”he noted.

Bishop Victor added that a large number of Greek clergy and laity harshly criticize the recognition of the OCU by the Greek Orthodox Church.

“Among the believers in Greece there are more and more of those who consider this decision to be erroneous. It is this position, as they say on Mount Athos, that led to the fact that during the celebration of the 1033th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus, the Greek Church did not send its representative to Kiev at the invitation of the OCU, ”he added.

“It is obvious that in the way that Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople went, time will not only not heal this wound, but will only deepen it. Because you can only be cured by a conciliar decision. And until the Phanar understands this, the Orthodox Church will suffer from schism, ”concluded Bishop Victor.

Source AOJ

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