According to reports on resources close to the “OCU”, a group of supporters of the Dumenko organization, led by “Bishop” of Vladimir-Volynsky Matthew, visited the Holy Mountain. At the same time, they were admitted to the service and Communion at the Pantokratoros monastery. The schismatics also visited such monasteries as Iviron and Stavronikita.
On the one hand, such news suggests that OCU continues to work out an informational picture of its “reception” on Athos. Of course, Epiphany’s wards, as expected, keep silent about the fact that less than a third of the monasteries of the Holy Mountain admit them to services. After all, something else is important for them – to create in the vision of an external audience the appearance of their total presence in the lot of the Mother of God. In order to back up with certain “arguments” the substantiation of their “canonical” status (“they say, you see, everyone recognized us, even on Athos we calmly serve and take communion”).
On the other hand, the question arises again and again regarding the policy of structures close to the UOC about the organization of pilgrimage to the Holy Mountain.
Is it correct and appropriate? Why do the visit programs include services in those monasteries where concelebration with representatives of the “OCU” can take place? How can this be reconciled with the fact that our Church has publicly designated Patriarch Bartholomew as a schismatic?
There are many more similar questions. And it would be right for the fullness of our Church to give honest and unambiguous answers to them.
