The Secretariat of the Holy Synod of the Albanian Orthodox Church criticized the work of the theologian of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Archimandrite Gregory Fragakis “On the treatment of the church issue in Ukraine by the Mother Church of Constantinople (the issue of ordinations)”. It is reported by the UOJ.

In his work, the Phanar hierarch draws parallels with the granting of autocephaly to the Church of Albania, and also substantiates the legalization of Filaret and Epifaniy.

The Albanian Church noted that it is incorrect to compare Filaret and his disciple Epifaniy with the figures of the Albanian Church, Bishop Vissarion and Bishop Agafangel ordained by him.

“Agafangel did not receive ordination from the suspended, excommunicated and anathematized bishop, as was the case with Epifaniy, and he did not become the primate of the autocephalous Church. In Albania, not a single group was humiliated, as was the case with Metropolitan Onufry and more than 90 bishops,” the document says.

It is also noted that in the tomos of the OCU, the Phanar calls this structure a “daughter”, while the Albanian Church in its tomos calls it a “sister”.

“The main thing, however, is that peace and unity then came to Albania, in contrast to what is happening in Ukraine with adverse consequences for the entire Orthodox Church,” the document says.

The Albanian Church pointed to the similarity of the Ukrainian schism with the Melitian schism, which was healed by repentance, the ordination of schismatic bishops, and reconciliation by decision of the Ecumenical Council.

The Albanian Church recalled that they offered the Phanar a format for healing the Melitian schism back in March 2019, immediately after the emergence of the OCU, and continue to insist on “convening a Pan-Orthodox Council, which, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, should resolve the church issue affecting Orthodoxy throughout the world.”

“The main thing that everyone is convinced of is that the Divine Eucharist, Apostolic Succession and Catholicity are the inseparable foundations of Orthodox unity, and our aspiration is peace and unity in Orthodoxy throughout the world,” stressed the Synod of the Albanian Church.