Hieromonk Nikitas, of Pantokrator Monastery, Athos
Much noise has been created by various websites concerning the forthcoming visit of His Eminence Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv and All Ukraine to Mount Athos. Through their publications, they spread discord within the ranks of the Holy Mountain and the Church in general. Misinformation has become a daily phenomenon, and naturally, this issue of his visit could not remain unaffected.
In one of these articles, it is stated that the Autocephalous Church of Ukraine has not been recognized by Mount Athos. This statement is exceedingly frivolous, revealing the ignorance of the article’s author, as it effectively presents Mount Athos as if it were an independent Church that can decide whether to recognize another Church or not. Mount Athos belongs to the Ecumenical Patriarchate and, of course, has had communion with the Autocephalous Church of Ukraine since December 15, 2018, when it was created from the bosom of the Mother Church. Any reactions are merely personal opinions, most often instigated by external influences under the pretext of obedience to the Holy Canons. Yet anyone who truly knows the Holy Canons and the tradition of the Church understands that other interests now lie behind these reactions.
The use of the Ekklitos appeal to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which throughout the centuries has provided solutions to problems that arose in the local Churches, also resolved this particular issue — bringing millions of people in Ukraine back onto the path of salvation and healing the long-standing schism that had afflicted them, a schism in which there were no dogmatic differences. The most recent example of an Ekklitos appeal is from the Church of Cyprus, where the former Metropolitan of Paphos, Mr. Tychikos, appealed to the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the examination and final resolution of his case.
Continuing, the same article claims that most monasteries continue to maintain ecclesiastical communion with the Patriarchate of Moscow. Are there, then, monasteries that have ceased communion with the Patriarchate of Moscow? The Ecumenical Patriarch, having great love for the unity of the Church, still commemorates Patriarch Kirill of Moscow — which means that no one on Mount Athos has broken ecclesiastical communion with the Patriarchate of Moscow, as the article’s author suggests. It is the Patriarchate of Moscow that has severed communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, not the other way around.
Furthermore, the article cites the opinion of an anonymous senior representative of some monastery, who claims that Metropolitan Epiphanius’ visit will be “formal and limited” and will not reflect the attitude of the majority of the monks. However, such anonymity indicates fear. If his opinion truly represented the majority of the monks on Mount Athos, as the article asserts, there would be no reason for him to remain anonymous. He would confess the truth openly, as a genuine confessor of the faith.
The article’s reference to “pro-patriarchal monasteries” and others in itself sows division and separation. The term “pro-patriarchal monasteries,” perhaps used disparagingly by the article’s author, is for us a title of honor. For how could one not love the Patriarch of our Nation, the Ecumenical Patriarchate — the womb that gave birth to all the autocephalous Orthodox Churches and has preserved its universality for more than sixteen centuries?
According to the publication, monastic circles (again anonymous) interpret the visit of Metropolitan Epiphanius as an attempt to gain legitimacy. These monastic circles (if they are truly monastic) have yet to understand that Metropolitan Epiphanius acquired legitimacy on the very day of his election by the Unification Council, and this legitimacy was confirmed by the Tomos of Autocephaly granted by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in January 2019. Therefore, he has no need to visit Mount Athos in order to legitimize himself.
Finally, there is a correct statement in the article — that the Athonite monks place the unity of the Church above all else. It reads: “We must keep Athos away from any conflict. The unity of Orthodoxy stands above everything.” Indeed, this is the desire of us all. And for this very reason, we will welcome on Mount Athos the Primate of the fifteenth Church as a sign of the unity of the Churches and as an example to all who do not accept unity. For truly, the unity of Orthodoxy stands above all.
It is unfortunate that these websites, instead of promoting the unity of the Churches — which suffers so greatly in our days — promote (perhaps unintentionally) discord and incite fanaticism among many people who are misled by what they read. The Spirit of God can only be understood by the one who strives for unity, putting into practice the Lord’s saying: “That they all may be one.”