Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus in his interview with politis.com.cy, talking about his relations with the Metropolitans who oppose the recognition of the OCU, stressing that their decision not to co-operate with him puts them out of the Church of Cyprus, as orthodoxtimes informs.

“I told them that while they knew I was sick, why did they never ask, ‘Hey brother, how are you? Do you need some help?” They never asked me and they came to protest because we didn’t remain neutral on the Ukraine issue. I told them that there are tomoi in the Ecumenical Patriarchate and anyone can see them. Ukraine never belonged to the Moscow Patriarchate. If they don’t want to cooperate, it’s ok, but I told them that they are out of the Church of Cyprus. I told them, “You are not members of the Church of Cyprus. You are Protestants. Will everyone make a church of his own? You are wrong, gentlemen.” The Metropolitan of Limassol came and we co-operated with his assistant. The only ones who remained are the Metropolitans of Kykkou and Tamassos,” he stated.

The Archbishop of Cyprus stressed that the Metropolitans have got carried away. “I don’t want to believe that Metropolitan of Kykkou is taking money or is in need of money from Moscow. He is not. Maybe the Metropolitan of Tamassos is in need, because a Russian built for him a church up there.”