The message of the Archbishop of America to the Moscow Patriarchate

Message to Moscow Patriarchate to follow the example of the Ecumenical Patriarch, “who finds appropriate solutions in all crises and works for world peace”, sent the Archbishop of America Elpidophoros from Chios where it is located.

“Ethno-racial outbursts do not help and the Orthodox Churches cannot under any circumstances justify any bloodshed”, said Elpidophoros characteristically, in his speech during the ceremony of awarding him an honorary doctorate from the Department of Business Administration of the University of the Aegean. “The Churches must work for the restoration of peace, following the example of our Ecumenical Patriarch who has been leading Orthodoxy to peaceful harbors for decades now,” he stressed.

The keynote address of the Archbishop of America during his induction ceremony was entitled “Crisis Management in the Ecumenical Patriarchate”. Archbishop Elpidophoros referred to all the crises that the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Ecumenical Patriarch himself have managed with particular success. “It is a great honor for me to be awarded an honorary doctorate,” he noted. “However, I want to give this honor to the institution of the Ecumenical Patriarchate that has honored me since I was a codographer, then chief secretary and then metropolitan of Prussia and today Archbishop of America. I want honor to be given to the Great Church of Christ, the First Throne Church of Constantinople and our Ecumenical Patriarch,” he said. “Let honor be given to the personality of the Ecumenical Patriarch, the longest-serving Patriarch of the Throne, who leads the Church to calm harbors. And of course the honor goes back to one person, the head of the institution, the Ecumenical Patriarch etc. Bartholomew, who, as the longest-lived Patriarch in the history of the Church of Constantinople, still today leads the ark of this Orthodoxy to breezy ports, overcoming crises and storms of modern history, wisely managing global Orthodoxy”.

The Archbishop referred to the crises that the Ecumenical Patriarchate has managed in recent decades, such as the pandemic. “Our Ecumenical Patriarch first set the example with his public vaccination in spite of the harsh voices to the contrary that demonized vaccination. And I must emphasize that his choice was not bloodless.”

He referred to the management of the ecological problem and the fight that mr. Bartholomew for the protection of the environment, highlighting the initiatives taken by the Patriarchate from the first moment of the fire in Baloukli both for the management of the disaster and for the restoration of the damages by gathering resources from the Community. “The Ecumenical Patriarchate has a strategy in dealing with the crises and the various problems that concern society and Orthodoxy”, he underlined. He even referred to the crises successfully managed by the Patriarchate and finding the appropriate solutions in the Churches of Jerusalem, Cyprus and Ukraine.

The Archbishop of America on the case of the Church of Ukraine where, as he said, “there were conflicting and mutually accusing jurisdictions” noted that the Ecumenical Throne tried in cooperation with the Moscow Patriarchate to resolve the issue. But the Moscow Patriarchate, he said, postponed, downgraded and eventually stopped efforts to resolve it. “After the insincere attitude of the Moscow Patriarchate, since it did not attend the ecumenical meeting of Crete at the last minute, the Ecumenical Patriarchate decided to take initiatives to resolve the Ukrainian issue, a solution followed by the Patriarchate of Alexandria and the Churches of Greece and Cyprus. “The sister Orthodox Churches did not follow the absurdity of Moscow and commemorate the Patriarch of Moscow, while the Moscow Patriarchate is isolated. And he makes tactical mistakes, as recently with entering the Patriarchate of Alexandria, buying off the poor priests of Africa.”

“The Moscow Church”, he emphasized, “must give up fantasies and respect and align with the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the rest of the Orthodox Churches”. “Because a key role in crisis management,” he emphasized, “is played by conviviality, to put it more simply, collectiveness. Synodality is the identity of the Church and all church life is synodically structured,” he noted.

At the ceremony announcing the Archbishop with an honorary doctorate, the rector of the University of the Aegean, Chrysis Vitsilakis, referred to the personality of Elpidophoros, underlining that he is a person who has honored science and a person who has contributed to Greece, the Unity and our Ecumenical Patriarchate with his personality and his work with his positions so that the other voices that contribute to the settlement of differences, social and cultural, can be heard. “The Archbishop”, he noted, “gives a platform to the words of others, even if he is not popular. When we talk about settlement, about dialogue, about mutual understanding, about acceptance of the other, it is important that these voices are heard, so that our society can continue to promote and move forward. “Dear Sir, we want you as a member of the academic community, not only for your work, but also because the course and what you have done have in common with the development of the university. A university that is ranked in the highest levels of the newest universities”, concluded Mrs. Vitsilaki.

For his part, the president of the Department of Business Administration, Mich. Bekiaris, underlined that in the person of the Archbishop, the University also honors the Homogenia with which the island of Chios has very close ties.

“The department is adding an outstanding scientist and a religious leader of international scope to its ranks. The award receives as well as gives honor by being accepted by a personality of international scope,” he noted. Finally, the director of the graduate program and former president of the Department, Professor Emm. Christofakis referred to the Archbishop of America as a multifaceted personality with work inside and outside the Church.

He spoke about his work and his studies, his awards and his academic and priestly career. “Mr. Elpidophoros is the physical and spiritual leader, an important chapter for the Community, a helper and supporter of the youth of the Community,” he added.

In addition, he referred to the Chios roots of the Archbishop of America, “a charismatic and enlightened hierarch who overcomes stereotypes and prejudices and with rich virtues derived from his high scientific and theological training. That is why this award is the highest honor for the University of the Aegean”, he emphasized.

RES-EMP

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