Department for External Church Relations
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His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania: Instead of unity of Orthodox Christians in Ukraine, there has appeared a danger of schism in the unity of universal Orthodoxy
In his letter sent to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on 10 October 2018, His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania expressed his concern that the implementation of the project of Ukrainian autocephaly by the Patriarchate of Constantinople would be a “march in a minefield.”
“It reminds of a dangerous undertaking with unforeseen repercussions. The warring groups will preserve their identity and cohesion, as often happened before in various Local Churches. As a result, instead of the unity of Orthodox Christians in Ukraine, there has appeared a danger of schism in the unity of the universal Orthodoxy,” the Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church said in his letter and noted that he had expressed his opinion to Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople during their meeting in Cyprus.
As His Beatitude emphasized, he is lifting up “ardent prayers for the unity of our Holy Church, which its Head, our Lord Jesus Christ, hath purchased with his own blood (Acts 20:28).”
The Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church assured His Holiness Patriarch Kirill that he “will do all he can to prevent the schism in the universal Orthodoxy.”
“Such scenario would be a painful blow to the trust in Orthodoxy, and every effort must be exerted to prevent it,” His Beatitude Metropolitan Anastasios added, “Howsoever impossible it might seem, we believe that we all must do all within our power to return to the Synaxes of Primates and to the planning of a new Great Council. We are aware that some will regard these proposals as unreal and therefore unfeasible. However, I am confident that no one can be a realist while not believing in a miracle, and that the things which are impossible with men are possible with God (Lk 18:27).”
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