On the occasion of two unfortunate events, the granting of autocephaly to the Ukrainian church on the one hand and the coronavirus pandemic on the other, voices from the solitary space “question and overthrow the whole holy and spiritual structure of the church”, the Ecumenical Patriarch pointed out , during his visit to the monastery of Karakallos on Mount Athos. In this way, the Ecumenical Patriarch sent, one might say, messages to many recipients, on the occasion of the relations between the Patriarchate and Moscow, due to the granting of Autocephaly to the Church of Ukraine and beyond. Explain to the monks that they are not above the Church, but part of it and should not succumb to & # 8220; temptations & # 8221; or & # 8220; other voices & # 8220 ;.
“The monks are not above the church, or next to the church, but inside the church, inside the church, inside the church and even as its chosen constitution”, underlined the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, calling on the monks to preserve the “basic and indisputable truths “of apostolic teaching, against & # 8220; temptations & # 8221; and in & # 8220; voices & # 8221; leading in the opposite direction from the imposed unity and functionality of the church.
“Unfortunately, on two occasions, for example, the surrender of self-government to the Ukrainian church and the coronavirus pandemic, voices are heard, after sorrow and bitterness, so to speak, from the solitary space, causes questions and subvert the whole holy and spiritual the church “, said Mr. Bartholomew. He added that the & # 8220; voices & # 8221; they & # 8220; unleash insults and slanders against the church, and exceptionally, against the Mother and Great Church of Christ & # 8221; He lamented this, saying: “Monasticism is ecclesiastical and not private. Mr. Bartholomew also stressed that the relationship between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Mount Athos is & # 8220; ontological & # 8221; and & # 8220; ecclesiastical & # 8221; and the mention of the Ecumenical Patriarch is a recognition of this unity and functionality of the church, from which the monks are not excluded, while the slightest deviation from & # 8220; its harmony and union & # 8221; leads to & # 8220; self-undo & # 8221; of monasticism.
“The act of commemorating the Patriarch with the simplest and most common: & # 8220; First of all, Lord, remember our Archbishop & # 8221; “It constantly shows that the bishop of the place (of Mount Athos) is always the archbishop of Constantinople, so that the unity and functionality of the body of Christ, that is, the church, is preserved”, stressed Mr. Bartholomew and continued: ” The charismatic class of the monks is by no means excluded from this functional unity of the body, and the slightest deviation from its harmony and conjugation would be a self-abolition of monasticism. “
Wishes for world peace and for the peace in Ukraine
A little earlier, the Ecumenical Patriarch addressed wishes for world peace and especially for peace in Ukraine, after the end of the divine service, in which he officiated, in the chapel of Panagia Portaitissa, in the Monastery of Iveron, on Mount Athos, where it is for a visit. Mr. Bartholomew offered as a gift a candle “to burn in front of the seventh image of (the Virgin Mary) in favor of the peace of the universe and especially for the afflicted Ukraine”.
With information from ΑΠΕ ΜΠΕ and voria.gr
