Cairo (AsiaNews) - The Orthodox patriarch of Alexandria, Theodoros, has recognized the Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kiev of the Ukrainian autocephalous Church. The Patriarchate of Moscow has already broken communion with Kiev and Constantinople due to Ukrainian autocephaly. It is feared that it will now also break communion with the Patriarchate of Alexandria. A month ago, the Church of Greece also recognized Kiev.
The "recognition" and communion with the Ukrainian Church takes place with the simple mention of the name of the Metropolitan of Kiev in the canon of the Divine Liturgy, as a sign of communion. Theodoros mentioned Epiphanius this morning while celebrating the liturgy in Daher, near Cairo in the church of the Archangels, on the feast of the archangels Michael and Gabriel, according to the Orthodox calendar.
The official communiquè states that autocephaly to the Ukrainian Church "was granted by the Ecumenical Patriarchate" of Constantinople "in accordance with the sacred canons of our Orthodox Church tradition".
For this reason, “after consulting the leaders of our local Churches, who are part of our very ancient Patriarchate founded by the Apostle Mark, and also bearing in mind the historical considerations for the future, we proceeded with the recognition of Autocephaly and during today's liturgical celebration named of his bleatitutde Epiphanius, head of the church of Kiev and all of Ukraine, and we have prayed for peace and unity of the Orthodox Churches”.