Seraphim (Mentzelopoulos) of Piraeus
Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus and Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythira and Antikythera have sent a joint letter-appeal to all local Orthodox churches calling on them to hold the Pan-Orthodox Council on the Ukraine question, Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus told vimaorthodoxias.gr.
He noted that the recognition of the Orthodox Chruch of Ukraine (‘independent’) by the Greek Orthodox Church may lead to tragic consequences. According to him, the flock is extremely divided and is watching the developments with anxiety as the new Schism is a fact.
Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus emphasized that no local Orthodox church has recognized the recently created Orthodox Church of Ukraine and that the Greek Orthodox Church made a historical mistake, when it decided that the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople had a right to support the Ukrainian schism.
The actions of the top Greek metropolitans regarding the Ukraine question demonstrates that despite the tactical administrative success of Constantinople in Greece, it remains in a very complicated situation because of its actions in Ukraine. In this situation, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople is in fact fueling a conflict within the Orthodox World to pursue own political goals.
