A new autocephalous Orthodox Church for Kiev at Christmas
On Christmas day Tomos arrives solemnly in the cathedral of Saint Sophia on, where it will remain exposed for the curiosity and devotion of the faithful. Eucharistic division between families and friends with followers of Moscow, Kiev, Constantinople. But there are priests who pray at Mass for all three Churches. Epifanyj seeks to tame Russian-Ukrainian opposition.
Kiev (AsiaNews) - The Tomos of autocephaly, which consecrates the autonomy of the Church of the patriarchate of Kiev, arrived in Kiev yesterday January 7 and was transported to the Cathedral of St. Sophia, the mother church of Kievan Christianity (photos 1 and 2).
Precisely on the day when the Orthodox Church celebrates the Birth of Jesus, the document celebrating the birth of the new Orthodox Church in Ukraine was celebrated. The document will remain exposed in the cathedral for the curiosity and devotion of the faithful.
This Church is born after a difficult gestation, and it raises in both the east and west, in Ukraine and in Russia, many questions about the interference of politics in the affairs of the Church.
But there are also questions about the meaning of ecclesiastical authority, about the pain of division (with Moscow) and the joy of unity (between Ukrainian churches). Now in Ukraine among friends we look at ourselves wondering: and what will you do? Where will you go to the liturgy this Sunday? And the question is painful, because if some are sure they want to be with the newborn church, others have not yet decided whether to take the step; others still have remained with Moscow, and not necessarily by virtue of a political vision. And after Moscow's decision to break the communion with Constantinople, this means that long-standing brothers of faith can no longer participate in communion. In any case structures are structures, authorities, authorities, and the rules of an ecclesial community cannot be changed at will.
And yet, within what appears to be a dead end made up of forced separations, the interruption of Eucharistic communion, many parishes in Ukraine took the opportunity to rediscover what the community really means. Many priests have not yet decided "which side to be on", but try to mature a decision together with their own parishioners. Many of them, during the liturgy, pray both for the patriarch of Moscow, Kirill, and for the metropolitan of Kiev, Epifanij, as well as for the ecumenical patriarch Bartholomew.
The brazenly "cesarean-papist" speech pronounced by President Porošenko at the conclusion of the Council in Kiev, which on 15 December had elected Epifanij as the new Metropolitan, was criticized most in Ukraine: a political speech for an electoral campaign in a sign of victory over an enemy. In spite of political calculations, the same neo primate Epifanij, during the celebration of Christmas in St. Sophia, standing before the newly arrived Tomos, changed the tables commemorating all the primates of the autocephalous Orthodox Churches, including the Patriarch of Moscow, Kirill. A clear sign for those that, while affirming his role, he does not want to continue any opposition. This gesture is hope filled, and give greater substance to the words spoken by Epifanij at the first press conference after his election. On that occasion he did not speak of a clash with Moscow or of victory over Kirill, but said that the Church must meet the people must not isolate herself, that the priests must be ready to respond to the new demands of society, that everything must be done to avoid violence and to promote reconciliation.
This is what we need in this country where the war has lasted for five years, and in an extremely divided society, we need to try to find a modus vivendi that welcomes all.
.png)
21/12/2018 09:28
