An interview at Romfea.gr, was given by Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Cyprus, who was in Athens for two days.
The Archbishop referred to his meetings with Primates of Local Churches regarding the Autocephaly in Ukraine.
In relation to his meeting with the Primates of other Churches, he underlined that “in order to avoid a schism, one had to approach all the Primates and to do some kind of co-ordination, with the consent of the Ecumenical Patriarch.”
He also noted that after the granting of the Tomos of Autocephaly in Ukraine, rightly none of the Primates took a position either in favour of the Ecumenical Patriarch or in favour of the Patriarch of Moscow, for “we would definitely have a schism, with mathematical precision.”
He also stressed that following a conversation he had with Archbishop Anastasios of Albania, he thought it would be a good idea to propose it to the Ecumenical Patriarch, who accepted it despite his initial misgivings.
“This is my effort,” he noted. He added that the Archbishop of Albania does not accompany him in this effort due to some eye health problems.
He, however, seems optimistic that his visits have been successful. “We have exchanged views [with the Primates] on the issue, and I think that our coordination will come through.”
Asked whether the Church of Greece would be the first Church to recognize the Autocephalous Church of Ukraine, he said that the best thing is “to come to an agreement and to take a decision all together, for a one-sided decision will not be beneficial, and the result would be what I have been afraid of. I could also make a decision in favour of one or the other, but I find it wrong. That’s why we did not do such a thing.”
He also stressed that what is now important is to find the golden incision, to reduce the distance and bridge the gap that exists at the moment.
“The Church is one and we must all help to elevate it, while we must cherish Orthodoxy as the apple of our eye.”
