Bulletin:Church of Greece Moves Toward Recognition of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine

In a crucial first step,the Holy Standing Synod of the Church of Greece has recognised that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew's granting of autocephaly,or independence,to the new Orthodox Church of Ukraine,was canonical.His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece will now raise the issue for consideration by the full Holy Synod at its October session.*
The official statement of the Standing Synod reads as follows:
Following the proposal by the Synodic Committees on Dogmatic and Legislative Issues  and Inter-Orthodox and Inter-Christian Relations,the Holy Standing Synod recognises the Ecumenical Patriarch's canonical right to issue the status of autocephaly as well as the privilege of the Primate of the Church of Greece to further deal with the recognition of the Church of Ukraine. *
The Holy Standing Synod is a preparatory body for the full Holy Synod.*
In a related development,a leading theologian of the Church of Greece,His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Messinia,has recently expressed his approval of the granting of autocephaly to the OCU.*

Metropolitan Chrysostomos Concerned About Church Participation in Greek Rally

One of the most highly respected churchmen in Greece,His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Messinia,who,in addition to his pastoral leadership,is an author and professor of theology in the University of Athens,has expressed misgivings about Church participation in the big rally planned for 4 February 2018 on the issue of current negotiations by the Greek government with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.The negotiations seek to resolve outstanding disagreements between the neighbouring nations,particularly the use of the name "Macedonia" itself,which is also used by a province of Northern Greece.Here are some of his recent remarks on the subject:
Recently,on the occasion of the resurgence of diplomacy to resolve the bilateral disputes between Greece and the FYROM (irredentism,naming,erga omnes,and others that are equally serious and perhaps not public),there is also a lot of discussion about the organisation of rallies and the position of the Church of Greece against them.The storm of statements,suggestions,incitements,ecclesiastical turbulence suggests,or rather confirms,that-unfortunately-and despite any clarifying approaches of the Holy and Sacred Synod of 26 January,we move to the dangerous limit of secularism and its devotion to our ecclesiastical ethos.And I will be more specific:
The Church of Greece,indeed,has in the past organised rallies and invasions,and although one could argue that at that time both the reason and the way of their organisation gave it some justification,however,they "redeemed" them several decades later,as being too expensive.It is not unjust to the historical accuracy if I assert that the reward "benefit" was fairly low in relation to the "struggle" and the damage quite high in relation to its aspirations.
In the current circumstances,however,the organisation of rallies is completely different and alien to the whole institution of the Church.Their organisation is moving in a turbulent environment,exploiting the indisputable and immovable position of the Greek people on the non-use of the name "Macedonia" for the neighbouring state of Skopje.That is why I dare to raise some questions and concerns in good faith:
Who are the "unscheduled" organisers of rallies?Presidents of organisations and groups who obviously represent a portion of the people.Is it allowed,therefore,to stand by the Church as a "therapist" next to them?Do we forget that the Church expresses the whole and not the part,with which it cannot be identified?
Who are the "unknown" co-organisers,who seek to use the institutional Church and "grab" it for the satisfaction of their own political desires,alibis and aspirations?*
I think,as everyone else,I respect the desire of every Greek citizen to participate in any rally to express in the most dynamic way the popular will for the specific issue of naming.But should the institution of the Church be sought,and indeed with the presence of its bishops?Such an expression is purely a secular perception of the functioning of the ecclesiastical body itself with the "things of this world" when this secularisation even entails,albeit inconspicuous for some,the protestantising of our ecclesiastical morality,so that we risk being eclipsed and degenerating into a "therapist" of various groups,often of unknown ideology,placement and principles,but also intended purposes.*
I therefore consider that any enthusiastic tendencies should be limited in order to preserve the institutional role of the Church in society.*
Let us take a little more thought and consider the future of the institution,not the evolution and satisfaction of our personal aspirations and visions!!
Messinia Chrysostomos +

Inter-Orthodox Unity:Church of Greece Metropolitans Visit Ecumenical Patriarchate

On 20 November 2017,two metropolitans of the Church of Greece were received by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople at the Patriarchate in Istanbul.His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Messinia and His Eminence Metropolitan-elect Theoklitos of Stagoi and Meteora,who were accompanied by the Very Rev. Archimandrite Nifon (Kapsali),Abbot of Meteora Holy Monastery,would also concelebrate the Synodical and Patriarchal Divine Liturgy with Patriarch Bartholomew on 21 November,the feast of the Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple,at the newly restored Cathedral of Our Lady of Pera (Beyoglu),aka Cathedral of St.George,on the European side of Istanbul.*
His Eminence Theoklitos sought the Patriarch's blessing for his upcoming enthronement on 25 November in Kalambaka,Greece.The Patriarch blessed the Metropolitan-elect and wished him a long and fruitful ministry to the glory of God and the benefit of the faithful of his Province,which is adorned by the famous Meteora Holy Monastery.*
Addressing His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos,Patriarch Bartholomew said he remembered with emotion his visit to Messinia and the warm expressions of faith and love towards the institution of the Ecumenical Patriarchate by the faithful of that Province.He asked that Metropolitan Chrysostomos convey to the people of Messinia his sincere paternal love and wish that the Virgin Mary will protect and empower them all.*
At the Divine Liturgy the next day,Patriarch Bartholomew asked the two metropolitans to convey to His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece his brotherly greeting and the readiness of the Church of Constantinople to always cooperate harmoniously with the Holy Church of Greece on the common good and for Pan-Orthodox unity.He particularly recalled the contribution of the Church of Greece to the success of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church on the island of Crete in June 2016.*
Other concelebrating metropolitans included His Eminence Bartholomew of Smyrna (Izmir,Turkey);His Eminence Elpidoforos of Proussos (Bursa,Turkey);and His Eminence Amfilojie of Adrianopolis,Director of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Office in Athens.