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Orthodox hierarchs from various Local Churches condemned the Ukrainian schism and expressed support for the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church/Moscow Patriarchate (UOC/MP). Metropolitan Emmanuel Adamakis of Paris and all France (Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople) said in an interview with the website Православие в Украине (Pravoslavie v Ukraine: Orthodoxy in the Ukraine), “The only way open to the schismatics is to return to the Orthodox Church led by Metropolitan Vladimir”. Along with other Orthodox clergy from other Local Churches, he recently visited Kiev on the feastday of the Baptism of Rus, which also had festivities celebrating the 20th anniversary of the installation of Metropolitan Vladimir Sabodan of Kiev and all the Ukraine as the First Hierarch of the UOC/MP. Metropolitan Emmanuel emphasised, “The Patriarchate of Constantinople has no relationship with schismatics; it doesn’t acknowledge or recognise them”.
Archbishop Petros Giakoumelos of Aksum (Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa) also unequivocally denied that any of the Local Churches could recognise schismatics; it was a sheer impossibility. In Vladyki Petro’s opinion, the Kiev anniversary celebration was testimony to the current stability of the UOC/MP, saying, “Nothing can destroy or divide the Oneness of the Church”.
Metropolitan Gavriil Dinev of Lovech (Patriarchate of Bulgaria) said that the Church at large wouldn’t recognise the schismatics until they reconciled with the UOC/MP.
Metropolitan Nikolaos Hatzinikolaou of Mesogeia and Lavreotiki (Church of Greece) stressed, “The healing of the schism is an internal matter of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which she must deal with as she sees fit, without any pressure from other Local Churches”. He spoke of the impossibility of recognising the “Mysteries” performed by schismatics, pointing up a similar case in the Greek context. The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece decided not to recognise baptisms performed by schismatic Greek Old Calendarists, as it isn’t in communion with such unfaithful elements; it receives such people by chrismation.
For his part, Archbishop Abel Popławski of Lublin and Chełm (Church of Poland) pointed up, “Schism is a sin; as with any other sin, it can only be cured with repentance”. He reminded us that Philaret Denisenko, the head of the self-proclaimed so-called “Patriarchate of Kiev”, is under an anathema, and he and his organisation has no place among the canonical Churches.
7 August 2012
Interfax-Religion
Primakov sez the Overthrow of the Assad Régime would bring in Religious Persecution in Syria
Tags: Alawi, American Enterprise Institute, Bashar al-Assad, Eastern Orthodox Church, Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch, Islam, Islamism, Islamist, Moscow, Orthodox, Orthodoxy, Patriarchate of Antioch and all the East, political commentary, politics, Russia, Russian, Sunni, Sunni Islam, Syria, Syrian Civil War, United States, USA, Yevgeny Primakov
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Former Prime Minister Yevgeni Primakov stated that if the armed opposition in Syria overthrows Bashar al-Assad’s government, a Sunni junta in Damascus would start mass persecution of Alawis, saying in an interview with Российская газета (Rossiskaya Gazeta: The Russian Newspaper) on Wednesday, “If the armed opposition topples Assad, a Sunni junta in Damascus would arise, which automatically would entail persecution of the Alawis, who are a significant bloc in the population. Reprisals wouldn’t only target the activists of the ruling Ba’ath Party, as some think, rather, they’d strike everyone who doesn’t share their religious beliefs”.
In his view, much of the Arab League member states support the Syrian opposition because they don’t want an Assad victory. They fear that it’d create the ground for the formation of a Shi’a alliance consisting of Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Lebanon. He also noted that Assad’s overthrow wouldn’t stabilise Syria, pointing up, “All the talk in the West in support of the opposition, claiming that they desire to establish democracy and stability in Syria is absolutely untenable. There will be neither stability nor democracy there [if the opposition wins]”. However, Primakov thought that Russia’s stance on the Syrian question “was the only correct course. If I were head of the government or Minister of Foreign Affairs, then, I’d support the policy that’s now in force”.
8 August 2012
Interfax-Religion
http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=46900
Editor’s Note:
Orthodox Christians in the USA should note that the Far Right pals of the konvertsy are doing their best to put Islamist terrorists in charge of Syria. Our Orthodox coreligionists would suffer along with the Alawis and non-Islamist Sunnis. When JP supported the American Enterprise Institute, the Acton Institute, and the Washington Times, he supported elements that egg on Islamist terrorists (who garb themselves in the robes of “democrats”, dontcha know). That was irresponsible and without warrant on his part… thank God, he’s gone.
Wake up! The ideology behind the Republican Party is incoherent ontologically, contrary to what our Church teaches, and it opposes what it truly stands for… communitarianism, social justice, a world free of greed, and the sharing of society’s resources in a more fair fashion. Don’t forget… HH called the Free Market a fraud. We should bear that in mind as we listen to Wafflin’ Willy and the rest of the Grand Ole Phonies. There’s MUCH more to “Pro-Life” than just the illegalisation of abortion…
BMD