The split over the recognition of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) among the bishops and members of the Synod of the Cypriot Orthodox Church (CCP) is increasing, said on Tuesday the head of the Synodal Department for Relations between the Church and Society and the Moscow Patriarchate, Vladimir Legoyda, RIA Novosti writes.

“Apparently, the schism in the Cypriot Orthodox Church is deepening. A number of members of the Synod of this church, who disagree with the recognition of the so-called OCU (Metropolitans of Limassol Athanasius, Morphian Neophytos, Kykkos Nikifor, Tamassos Isaiah, as well as bishops of Amathus Epiphanius and Epiphanius of Ledra) , refused to take part in the conciliar divine service appointed by the Synod for July 10. <…> The pressure on those who do not agree to violate the canons increases, as a result of which the cracks deepen not only between the local Orthodox churches, but also within those of them who followed the lead of Constantinople and yet he recognized the schismatics,” Legoyda wrote in his Telegram channel.