Jelena Rakocevic: 'Synaxis of the Ecumenical Patriarchate will largely determine its position in the Orthodox world'

The hierarchs of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople from all over the world convened for a Synaxis (meeting) in Istanbul. The significance of the event is emphasized by the fact that the previous EP bishops' meeting took place three years ago – at the start of the final stage of preparations for the Pan-Orthodox Council in Crete.

Jelena Rakocevic comes up with more details at Delfi.lt: "It is expected that the forthcoming Synaxis will largely determine the position of Constantinople in the Orthodox world since it will deal with such important issues as the crisis in the Greek American Archdiocese and especially the church situation in Macedonia and Ukraine".

She also reflects on a recent VOA's interview with the chief Ukrainian American Orthodox Metropolitan Anthony Scherba and several think pieces on the matter of Ukrainian autocephaly.

"Poroshenko returned from Istanbul after meetings with the patriarch with a bit of exaggerated enthusiasm," Metropolitan Anthony commented on the situation to the Voice of America.

As Jelena Rakocevic explains, Patriarch of Constantinople is indeed highly respected by the other Local Orthodox Churches. However, he has no right to make unilateral decisions on such important issues as autocephaly: a consensus of the Councils of all the Local Churches on this matter is needed. As per sources at the Phanar, it is quoted that some Churches have already voiced their displeasure over the non-oservance of the procedure of granting ecclesiastical independence which was elaborated and agreed by all the Orthodox Churches back in 1993.

Moreover, up to now, none of the other Local Orthodox Churches has supported the granting of the Tomos in the situation when Ukrainian Orthodoxy remains divided. As Metropolitan Anthony notes, this complicates the task for Constantinople even further. "In most cases, when the country is given autocephaly, there is only one church, so the question arises: whom should the tomos be given to. This issue must be considered very seriously," the hierarch explained.

According to Ukrainian experts, another option for the Phanar may choose to restore its jurisdiction over the historical Metropolis of Kyiv and establish the Exarchate in Ukraine instead of granting the autocephaly. However, this scenario is also problematic because the boundaries of the Kyivan Metropolis as of 1686 differ significantly from the boundaries of modern Ukraine.

Jelena Rakocevic believes it is for these reasons that in the middle of July the discussion on the issue of the Ukrainian autocephaly was still in full swing at Phanar. Even the head of the UOC of USA and other hierarchs of the Ecumenical Patriarchate do not exclude that a meeting of all Orthodox bishops from around the world may be required to resolve the issue.

"The current Synaxis will, to a large extent, show how Constantinople will manage to reconcile the expectations of Kyiv, stances of other autocephalous churches and the requirements of the Holy Canons", Ms. Rakocevic concludes.