I humbly dedicate
this present
to the unity of Orthodoxy,
out of gratitude.
No one can deny the fact that the universal Orthodox Church is currently in a state of divisive crisis, due to the Ukrainian Ecclesiastical Question, which was created by the arbitrary and uncanonical granting of “Autocephaly” by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople to schismatic structures of the Ukrainian Church, and in ignorance of the Orthodox Russian Patriarchate, which is the mother Church of the Orthodox Ecclesiastical eparchy of Ukraine. The Ukrainian Question has been at the center of contemporary Orthodox debate in recent years, with endless discussions, arguments, and objections from both sides, a fact that is causing cracks in the foundations of the unity of the Pan-Orthodox Church.
For days and months I hesitated whether I should remain immersed in my silence or whether I should express in writing my agonizing views on this burning topic.
The voice of my hierarchal conscience resounded within me insistently: “You must overcome your ambivalence. You must emerge from your fatalistic sluggishness and comfortable passivity. You must engage more energetically, and with your pen, with this issue, because, according to the Latin saying, verba volant scripta manent, that is, words fly – written things remain. ” Ultimately, the consciousness of responsibility and duty, for the unity of the Orthodox Church, did not allow me to remain a shrewdly neutral, a colorless, indifferent, listless, and complacent Bishop. Driven, therefore, by the fear that God might hold us responsible for our guilty silence on an issue so dramatic that it threatens to divide Ecumenical Orthodoxy, I began timidly, with a consciousness of imperative duty, to research and write about this complex issue since November 2019. In the course of the research, at times various concerns (pastoral care, administration, financial management, cultural, charitable, social and other pursuits) prevented the continuation of the present study, and at other times they even threatened to interrupt its continuation and completion.
However, amid these difficulties, upheavals, and uncertainties, the great trial of the coronavirus pandemic suddenly arrived, which was accompanied by a painful, agonizing, and forced isolation that reached tragic proportions. However, this isolation, this loneliness, freed me from the world and its cares and gave me the opportunity to focus more intensely on my current research effort and to start writing, with conscious humility of my limitations, the work that follows. During the particularly suffocating hours of mandatory isolation, due to the harsh existential trial of the coronavirus pandemic, I was given the opportunity to put aside « all earthly concerns » [1] and, without the panic of death that hung in the air, to throw myself passionately into researching and writing this little treatise.
The nearly three months of mandatory isolation were, for me, the most spiritually fruitful and productive months. Indeed, in such cases, « one rightly remembers… the old sayings: ‘nothing bad comes without good’ and ‘from the bitter comes the sweet’. » [2]
This simple and humble work has no other ambition than to give, without concealment or ulterior motives, to Orthodox believers, who live in the « fear » and « shadow » [3] of a schism that is destructive to Orthodoxy, the necessary elements that make up the Ukrainian Ecclesiastical Question, so that they may form a complete and correct opinion, in accordance with the sacred canonical tradition of the Orthodox Church and, thus, to be guided to behave accordingly. I believe that every believer, every spiritual, religious person is obliged to know the truth of the matter if they want to evaluate it correctly; otherwise, they will have a vague, a blurred, distorted picture of the problem, which will be presented to them not by objective, but by biased opponents.
The main issue that will concern us in this research is whether “Autocephaly” was rightly or wrongly granted to Ukraine. This study seeks, without concealment or ulterior motives, to provide the necessary elements that make up the Ukrainian Question. It does not seek to embellish or dramatize, but to present the truth impartially, that is, without prejudice, sympathies or antipathies. I write, according to the divine Apostle, from “sincerity … as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.” [4]
In our humble effort to adequately develop the subject, we will proceed guided by the sacred Canons of the Ecumenical Councils, the Local Councils with Ecumenical authority, the Canons of the God-bearing Fathers and the relevant bibliography and subject matter. When necessary, we will also invoke the word of God, treasured in the Holy Scriptures (Old and New Testaments).
In writing about the Ukrainian Question, a burning and complex problem, I do not aim for anything personal. I do it for reasons of conscience and consistency, being fully aware of possible misunderstandings or even dangers that this effort of ours entails. It is very possible that the objective development of this topic will provoke reactions. This book may be met with polemics from intolerant nationalists or other distorters of the truth. It is also possible that by publishing this small work I will provoke lightning to strike me personally. The arrows of malicious criticism and the mud of the devil may be directed against us. « Enemies and detractors » [5], both visible and invisible, may seek our harm.
I am not unaware that he who seeks the truth and has the courage to proclaim it is always temporarily harmed. But I am also aware that “Christian hope always looks beyond Golgotha to the bright lights of the glorious Resurrection. The triumph of evil is always temporary” [6].
In this case, then, if this happens, that is, if the opponents mobilize all their audacity and shamelessness to slander me and try to tear me down, then the words of the Apostle Peter will comfort and strengthen me: “If you are reviled for the name of Christ, blessed are you…” [7]. Above all, however, I will be comforted and strengthened by the words of the Lord himself in his Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.” [8] Therefore, having these things in mind, I will boldly say with the psalmist: “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.” [9] I await not the praise of men, but the glory of heaven.
Before concluding the Foreword to this study, we consider it our duty to publicly express our gratitude to our distinguished collaborators for their selflessness, diligence, and hard work they put in to make this book happen. The work at hand took on its definitive content and final form thanks to the valuable contributions and suggestions and the useful linguistic corrections of the Director of the Ecclesiastical Ministry of the Holy Metropolis of Kykkos and Tylliria, Professor Emeritus at the University of Athens, and Professor at the University of Nicosia, Nikos Nikolaidis, as well as the kind, substantial contribution and valuable assistance of our distinguished colleagues, Voula Papandreou, our Personal Secretary, Kostis Kokkinofta, Director of the Center for Studies of the Holy Monastery of Kykkos, and Protopresbyter Paraskevas Papamichael, Director of our Private Office, each of whom, with commendable eagerness, offered what they could. Their collaboration was very important. I would also like to thank the Research Center of the Holy Monastery of Kykkos for the special honor of including this small treatise, which does not claim scientific completeness, in its series of prestigious publications. We express our grateful thanks to the R.P.M. Lithographic printing house for the correct technical and artistic layout of this book and, in general, for the aesthetic beauty of the book.
In concluding this Foreword, I thank and praise from the depths of my soul « my God through Jesus Christ » [10], who has deemed me worthy to complete this study, which I offer as a small gift to Him and to the Holy Assembly of His Church.
We submit this edition to the mercy and prayers of our God-loving readers, with our fervent prayers to the Almighty and All-Good Lord, that He may grant everyone a wise understanding.
September 8, 2020
Feast of the Most Holy Theotokos of Eleousa of Kykkos
The Metropolitan of Kykkos and Tillyria, Nikiforos
[1] We who mystically represent the Cherubim sing the thrice holy hymn to the life giving Trinity. Let us set aside all the cares of life that we may receive the King of all. The Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom, Holy Cross Liturgical Hymnal, Holy Cross Orthodox Press, Brookline, Massachusetts, 1988, p. 39
[2] Π. Β. ΠΑΣΧΟΥ, Ὁ διάλογος μέ τή Δύση γιά τό Θεό καί τόν ἄνθρωπο – Ἡ ποιητική θεολογία τοῦ Pavel Nicolaievitch Evdokimov, [P. V. Paschos. Dialogue with the West Concerning God and Man: The Poetic Theology of Pavel Nicolaievitch Evdokimov] Ἀθήνα 1995, σ. 9.
[3] Exapostilarion of the Nativity of Christ: “We, who were in darkness and shadow, have found the truth” / see also: The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. Matthew 4 16
[4] For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. 2 Corinthians 2 15-17
[5] ΧΡ. Ν. ΠΑΠΟΥΤΣΟΠΟΥΛΟΥ (Ἀρχιμ.), Λόγοι τῆς Χάριτος, [Hr. N. Papoutsopoulos, Words of Grace] (Athens, 1969), p. 31.
[6] Γ. Β. ΜΕΛΕΤΗ, Διάλογος μέ τόν οὐρανό [G. V. Meletis, Dialogue with Heaven] (Athens, 1974), p. 174.
[7] Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 1 Peter 4 12-16
[8] And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Matthew 5 1-12
[9] The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. Psalm 23
[10] First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. Romans 1 8
Το σύγχρονο Ουκρανικό ζήτημα και η κατά τους θείους και ιερούς κανόνες επίλυσή του
[The contemporary Ukrainian Ecclesial Crisis and its resolution in accordance with the Sacred Canons
by His Eminence Metropolitan of Kykkos and Tylliria, Nikiforos, Cyprus]
ΚΕΝΤΡΟ ΜΕΛΕΤΩΝ ΙΕΡΑΣ ΜΟΝΗΣ ΚΥΚΚΟΥ
Τ.Θ. 28192, 2093 ΛΕΥΚΩΣΙΑ, ΚΥΠΡΟΣ, 2020
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