Orthodox brotherhoods call on the leadership of the UOC (MP) to declare anathema to Bartholomew (TEXT)
The Union of Orthodox Brotherhoods sent a request to Metropolitan Onufry of Kyiv and All Ukraine to anathematize Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
The latter is accused of violating one of the most important principles of Orthodoxy - conciliarity.
As is known, in world Orthodoxy there is no high priest like the Pope of Rome among Catholics. All heads of local Orthodox churches are equal to each other. And all churches approve the fundamental principles by consensus (conciliar) and unanimously.
However, recently the so-called The “Ecumenical” Patriarch (an outdated title inherited by the Istanbul Patriarch historically - from the times when Constantinople was the capital of the Roman Empire - the “universe” from the point of view of the Romans) began to claim the authority to resolve major issues individually. The apogee of this “eastern papism” was the invasion of Ukraine, the canonical territory of the Moscow Patriarchate, and the preceding “cancellation” of anathemas against Mikhail Denisenko (the so-called “Patriarch Philaret”) and similar impostors.
Back on March 17, in Kyiv, 2 thousand parishioners of the UOC (MP) held a prayer service in a lay rite, at which the text of the anathema to the “Istanbul false patriarch Bartholomew” was read out.
Как He explained then the deputy head of the Union of Orthodox Brotherhoods, Vladislav Pustovoy, “according to the apostolic rules and the very principle of conciliarity of the Orthodox Church, in order to approve the ordination of bishops, as well as to condemn the activities of a particular bishop, the approval/disapproval of the church people is required, expressed in the exclamations of “axios” ( “worthy”) or “anaxios” (“not worthy”): “Without this, ordination is invalid.
Thus, the anathematization of Bartholomew, listed at the prayer service by the laity, means encouraging the clergy to proclaim anathema at the episcopal level. This is the first necessary and, most importantly, decisive step for this.”
And immediately after the All-Ukrainian religious procession, in development of this initiative, the Orthodox brotherhoods turned to Metropolitan Onufry of Kyiv:
“We turn to you, Your Beatitude, having firm hope of God’s help to you and the entirety of our Church through your prayer and zeal - with the request:
– To anathematize the heresy of Eastern papism by the synod, the council of bishops of the UOC (including the false teaching about the right of the Patriarch of Constantinople to cancel and revise decisions, including bans and anathemas, imposed by other local churches). To petition the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church to confirm the said decision of the UOC.
– To announce that the Istanbul bishop understands the symbolic title “Ecumenical” in a false sense, in which Saint Gregory Dvoeslov, the compiler of the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, cursed him. Announce that the UOC no longer accepts this title as blasphemous.
- To announce that the Istanbul, former Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew caused a schism, entered into communion with the anathema, and himself fell under it.
– Having, by office – as the Kiev Metropolitan, and by obedience – as an Orthodox bishop, the duty and responsibility for the protection of the earthly Church – to initiate a Pan-Orthodox conference in the city of Kiev (preparatory to the Pan-Orthodox Council) to develop an Orthodox decision on the denunciation of the Phanar heresy and the order of the deposition of the former patriarch Bartholomew, the members of his synod, and all those who, after his apostasy, entered into anti-church communion.
– Contact His Holiness Patriarch Kirill about preparations for the convening of a Pan-Orthodox Council by the will of four Orthodox patriarchs (representatives of the pentarchy) and ask all heads of local Orthodox churches to prepare delegations for this council. Report on the decisions and proposals of the Kyiv meeting.”
The head of the Union of Orthodox Brotherhoods, Valentin Lukiyanik, calls on the Orthodox to “come out in support of an appeal to His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry in connection with the heretical activities of the Bishop of Istanbul.”
Appeals with the above points are proposed to be sent to the address of the Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC (MP) 01015, Kyiv 15, st. Lavrskaya 15, Metropolitan Onuphry, Synod of the UOC.
Copies (for accounting): 01015, Kyiv-15 All-Ukrainian Orthodox Brotherhood of the Archangel Michael, Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, cor. 64.
Let us note that the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church stated on October 15: “The acceptance into communion of schismatics and a person anathematized in another Local Church with all the “bishops” and “clergy” ordained by them is an encroachment on other people’s canonical inheritances, an attempt to renounce one’s own historical decisions and obligations - all this takes the Patriarchate of Constantinople beyond the canonical field.”
Thus, one of the governing bodies of the Russian Orthodox Church has already recognized the Patriarchate of Constantinople as being outside the Church.
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