The Archbishop of Cyprus, His Beatitude Chrysostomos II, on Wednesday denied certain recent press reports claiming that the Ecumenical Patriarch has barred the Archbishop of Albania, His Beatitude Anastasios, from participating in deliberations with other Primates of Orthodox Churches on the issue of the Ukrainian Church’s autocephaly.
The press reports claim the reason is Anastasios’ distancing from the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s views on the issue.
Chrysostomos, who has coordinated the meetings of Orthodox hierarchs on the Ukrainian issue, stated that no such order or recommendation was expressed by the Ecumenical Patriarch, His All Holiness Bartholomew.
He also called on all quarters to allow Orthodox Church hierarchs to continue efforts – commenced with the acquiescence of the Patriarch – to reach positive results, and not to circulate unsubstantiated information for the mere sensationalism.