On November 18, 2021, Metropolitan Athanasius of Limassol (Church of Cyprus), answering questions from Romfea, confirmed that his point of view regarding the OCU has not changed.

He explained his participation in the joint divine service led by the Primate and a number of other hierarchs of the Church of Cyprus, who supported Archbishop Chrysostomos in his recognition of the OCU; Greek publications reported on the divine service on November 13, and a few days later the news of the first joint liturgy after the conflict was picked up by resources close to the OCU.

Lord Athanasius noted that his participation in this divine service in no way means that he allegedly “agrees with the recognition of Dumenko as the primate of the Ukrainian Church,” and once again stressed that this decision was made contrary to the canons.

“I came to the Cathedral of the Apostle Barnabas to pray at the service in honor of the day of the Archbishop’s angel. There I participated in the divine service, having the only motive for the unity of the Church, the members of the Holy Synod and the Primate,” Metropolitan Athanasius said.

Also, the hierarch once again noted that the “Metropolitan” Epiphany does not have a canonical consecration.