The “tour” of Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk and President of the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate in Cyprus continues, meeting Hierarchs of the Church of Cyprus who have expressed their support for the Moscow Patriarchate and Patriarch Kirill.
Following the inauguration of the Russian church in Limassol and the concelebration of the Divine Liturgy on the Sunday of the Myrrhbearers with Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk visited Nicosia on May 20 and the Metochion of the Holy Monastery of Kykkos, where he had a meeting with Metropolitan Nikiphoros of Kykkos and Tilliria, receiving praise for his visit.
The meeting between the two Metropolitans was reported on the website of the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate.
According to the announcement, they discussed the current challenges facing global Orthodoxy and the Church’s possible response to them.
Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk commended Metropolitan Nikiphoros for his unwavering support of the sacred norms of the Church, acknowledging his respected position in Cyprus and other Orthodox countries.
Metropolitan Nikiphoros conveyed his respect and love to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.
These exchanges come as no surprise to those following recent ecclesiastical events.
Similar to Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol, Metropolitan Nikiphoros of Kykkos has criticized Archbishop Chrysostomos II for recognizing the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
On the same day, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk met with Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphos in Nicosia, where they discussed the persecution faced by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and condemned the mistreatment of its hierarchy, clergy, and faithful.
Metropolitan Neophytos has gained attention for his controversial views on various issues, including coronavirus vaccination and the Ukrainian crisis.
The question remains whether Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk will also meet with Archbishop George, the Primate of the Church of Cyprus, or if he will limit his interactions to meetings with hierarchs who oppose the recognition of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine by the Church of Cyprus.
Efi Efthimiou
