Metropolitan Agafangel met with the Consul General of Greece in Odessa. For many years the Odessa diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has been maintaining and developing friendly relations with the Consulate General of the Greek Republic in Odessa. This was reported in the press service of the Odessa diocese on June 24, 2021, reports the Information and Educational Department of the UOC.

Many Greek diplomats, being Orthodox Christians, contributed a lot to the strengthening of interstate and inter-Orthodox relations. First of all, this concerns the deepening of all-round fraternal ties between the peoples of Ukraine and Greece.

In September 2020, experienced diplomat Dimitrios H. Dochtsis was appointed Consul General of the Republic of Greece in Odessa.

By tradition, all Consuls General of Greece in Odessa begin their mission of acquaintance and archpastoral blessing of the Metropolitan of Odessa and Izmail Agafangel.

On June 24, Metropolitan Agafangel received the Consul General at his official residence at the Dormition Monastery.

Welcoming the representative of friendly Hellas, Vladyka spoke about the traditional ties of friendship between the peoples of Ukraine and Greece, which is time-tested and has a long and glorious history. Metropolitan Agafangel recalled that Odessa has become a small homeland for many Greeks, who, fleeing mortal danger, found a quiet haven among the people of the same faith.

Vladyka Agafangel drew the attention of the Greek diplomat to the fact that at this time of social changes and instability in Ukraine, Holy Orthodoxy is in difficult and dangerous circumstances associated with the emergence of schismatic groups, which, using the patronage and clear support of the new government of Ukraine and anti-canonical dangerous actions Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, dealt a blow to the unity of Orthodoxy, further deepening its division. Without a preliminary conciliar discussion, alone, in the spirit of papism, in violation of the spirit and letter of Orthodox unity, the so-called “OCU” (OCU) was artificially created from the schismatic pseudo-Orthodox, political and nationalist groups. The so-called Tomos, presented by Patriarch Bartholomew, to the leaders of the schism who did not repent of their deeds, with the support of the Ukrainian authorities, and especially the extreme nationalist groups, and the political leader, did not represent Orthodox Ukrainians.

Against this background, as the hierarch of the UOC noted, they cause emotional pain, anxiety, indignation and temptation among Orthodox Christians of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and the dangerous anti-canonical actions of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople continue. Metropolitan Agafangel drew the attention of the Consul General of Greece in Odessa to the fact that after the presentation of the Tomos, attacks on the canonical Church from radicals and people far from the Church intensified.

Responding to the greetings of His Eminence Vladyka, Dimitrios Dokhtsis said that he gladly accepted his appointment to Odessa, which for every Greek is the place of Greek presence in Ukraine.

Commenting on the church events in Ukraine, the Consul General of Greece stressed that he is the representative of Greece in Odessa, therefore, problems between Orthodox churches should be resolved on the basis of church canons.

Vladyka Metropolitan asked the guest to convey to the Greek authorities the appeal of the majority of Ukrainian Orthodox Christians to help settle the schism that is tormenting Orthodox unity in Ukraine and around the world.

The Greek diplomat cordially thanked Metropolitan Agafangel for the warm, inspiring words of greetings, for love and hospitality, and expressed hope for the continuation of the traditional mutually beneficial relations between the Greek Consulate and the Odessa Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and also expressed readiness for cooperation for the benefit of the Greek diaspora in the Odessa Metropolis, mutual understanding and historically confirmed, good relations between Greece and Ukraine.

At parting, the governor of the Odessa diocese blessed the Greek diplomat to work for the benefit of the peoples of Greece and Ukraine, to strengthen Holy Orthodoxy, paying attention to the call of the Apostle: “I beg you, brethren, beware of those who create divisions and sins against the teaching that you have learned, and avoid them” (Rom. 16:17).

The meeting was attended by the rector of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Odessa, Archpriest Viktor Petlyuchenko and an employee of the General Consulate in Odessa, Nikolai Kartanzhi.