CONSTANTINOPLE – The Ecumenical Patriarchate is getting ready for a series of serious ecclesiastical decisions and events over the next few weeks, out of which the most important ones are the election of a new archbishop for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the Synaxis of the Hierarchy of the Throne, the meeting with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, and the granting of Autocephaly to the Church in Ukraine.
The National Herald has learned that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew called a meeting of the hierarch who dwells in Turkey on July 28 announced his decision to convene the Hierarchy of the Ecumenical Throne from throughout the World from September 1 to 3.
All the metropolitans and archbishops (approximately 120) will be invited, including the metropolitans of the Untied States,, Canada, Europe, Crete, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, the Dodecanese Islands, and New Lands of Greece. The auxiliary bishops will not be invited this time.
Among the topics that will be discussed will be the life of the Church after the Holy and Great Council (HGC) of the Orthodox Church in Crete in 2016, the imminent granting of Autocephaly to the Church in Ukraine, and the Ecclesiastical Eparchies of the Ecumenical Throne abroad. The last Synaxis of the entire Hierarchy took place in August 2015.
During the July 28 meeting, Bartholomew made reference to the issue of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. He reportedly said the issue of America has tired us all we must finish with that. He did not give any time frame but those familiar with the ecclesiastical matters are placing the decision after the New Ecclesiastical year. Also, reference was made to the interview to The National Herald of Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta.
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow has requested an audience with Bartholomew. They will meet at the Phanar on August 30 and the following day Kirill will meet with the Holy Synod.
The prevalent issue is expected to be Ukraine’s Autocephaly. All indications show that Bartholomew has decided to proceed with Autocephaly so that the schism there will alleviate and the situation will normalize.
This will be Bartholomew’s and Kirill’s first meeting since the 2016 HGC, from which Kirill withdrew the very last moment and unsuccessfully attempted to thwart by including three other Orthodox churches.
Also, the FYROM issue was discussed, but tabled.
Also the issue of the Church of Skopje was discussed but it was sifted for discussion in future time.
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