Orthodox Church in America calls to double prayers for the UOC Primate

Metropolitan Tikhon of All America and Canada

The Orthodox Church in America urged the clergy and flock to intensify prayers for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. This is stated in the archpastoral letter of Metropolitan Tikhon of All America and Canada in light of the latest events concerning the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, published on the OCA website on September 26.

"We call upon our clergy, monks and believers to express their support and intensify their prayers for His Beatitude, Metropolitan Onufry and all bishops, monastics, clergy and believers of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church," the message says. "Drawing on the healing power of Christ, we call on the faithful of the Orthodox Church in America to be firm in faith, love and hope, preserving cooperation and eucharistic communion with both the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Moscow Patriarchate, thereby offering a sign of unity in the face of present threats to the unity." 

The appeal also says that the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America "supports the need for regular dialogue at all levels and calls upon all Local Orthodox Churches to resolve the current crisis in Ukraine by convening an All-Orthodox Council or similar conciliar process in which an authentic solution to this problem can be found." 

"We are ready to participate in such fraternal discussions. We will also consider the events related to this situation at our autumn meeting," the message says.

As reported by the UOJ, the Synod of the ROCOR condemned the attempts to create an autocephalous Church in Ukraine and announced the support of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine. Also, the Primate of the Cypriot Orthodox Church expressed his concern over the latest developments in the Ukrainian Church.

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