Independence and autocephaly in the Orthodox Churches of independent states is granted not by any Church alone, but by the Pan-Orthodox Council of churches, said the hierarch of the Cypriot Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Isaiah of Tamassos in an interview to the Greek website Romfea.

Constantinople needs to understand that it has a primacy of ministry, not power, and all, in fact, honor this primacy, explains the hierarch. However, according to him, the theory of Constantinople “First without equals” is of great concern.

He stressed that his reaction, as well as many other bishops on the “Ukrainian question”, is “a form of expression of respect for Slavic Orthodox history and traditions, but also of our desire to continue our fraternal relations and partnership.”

Anyone who violates the balance of autocephaly of the Orthodox Churches “automatically interferes with our religious freedom and unity,” and this is the message of those Churches that refuse to recognize the schismatic OCU, says Metropolitan Isaiah.