Message to the Moscow Patriarchate to follow the example of the Ecumenical Patriarch, "who finds appropriate solutions in all crises and works for world peace", sent by the Archbishop of America Elpidophoros from Chios where he is.
"Ethno-racial outbursts do not help and the Orthodox Churches cannot under any circumstances justify any bloodshed", Elpidophoros said characteristically, in his speech during the ceremony of awarding him an honorary doctorate of the Department of Business Administration of the University of the Aegean. "The Churches must work to restore peace, following the example of our Ecumenical Patriarch who has been leading Orthodoxy to calm harbors for decades now", he stressed.
The Archbishop of America's keynote address at his induction ceremony was entitled "Crisis Management in the Ecumenical Patriarchate". Archbishop Elpidophoros referred to all the crises that the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Ecumenical Patriarch himself have managed with particular success. "It is a great honor for me to be awarded an honorary doctorate", write down. "But I want to give this honor to the institution of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which has honored me since I was a codographer, then arch-secretary and then metropolitan of Prousia and today Archbishop of America. I want honor to be given to the Great Church of Christ, the Patriarchal Church of Constantinople and our Ecumenical Patriarch", he said. "To give honor to the personality of the Ecumenical Patriarch, of the longest-serving Patriarch of the Throne, who leads the Church to calm harbors. And of course the price comes down to a person, the pivot of the institution, the Ecumenical Patriarch Mr. Bartholomew, who, as the longest serving Patriarch in the history of the Church of Constantinople, still today he leads the ark of this Orthodoxy to leeward ports, overcoming crises and storms of modern history, managing universal Orthodoxy with wisdom".
The Archbishop referred to the crises that the Ecumenical Patriarchate has managed in recent decades, such as the pandemic. "Our Ecumenical Patriarch first set the example with his public vaccination in spite of the harsh voices to the contrary that demonized vaccination. And I must stress that this choice of his was not bloodless".
He referred to the management of the ecological problem and the fight that mr. Bartholomew for the protection of the environment, underlining the initiatives taken by the Patriarchate from the first moment of the fire in Balouklis both for the management of the disaster and for the restoration of the damages by gathering resources from the Community. "The Ecumenical Patriarchate has a strategy for dealing with crises and the various problems that concern society and Orthodoxy", underlined. He even referred to the crises successfully managed by the Patriarchate and finding the appropriate solutions in the Churches of Jerusalem, of Cyprus and Ukraine.
The Archbishop of America on the case of the Church of Ukraine where, as he said, "there were conflicting and mutually accusing jurisdictions" he noted that the Ecumenical Throne tried in cooperation with the Moscow Patriarchate to resolve the issue. But the Moscow Patriarchate, as he said, postponed, downgraded and eventually stopped efforts to resolve it. "After the insincere attitude of the Moscow Patriarchate, since even at the last moment he did not attend the ecumenical meeting of Crete, the Ecumenical Patriarchate decided to take initiatives to resolve the Ukrainian issue, solution followed by the Patriarchate of Alexandria and the Churches of Greece and Cyprus. "The sister Orthodox Churches did not follow the absurdity of Moscow and commemorate the Patriarch of Moscow, while the Moscow Patriarchate is isolated. And he makes tactical mistakes, as recently with the admission to the Patriarchate of Alexandria, redeeming the poor priests of Africa".
"The Church of Moscow", he stressed "he must give up his fantasies and respect and align himself with the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the rest of the Orthodox Churches". "Why a key role in crisis management", he stressed, "the synodality takes place, to put it more simply, the collective. Synodality is the identity of the Church and all church life is synodically structured", write down.
At the ceremony announcing the Archbishop to an honorary doctorate, the Rector of the University of the Aegean, Chrysi Vitsilaki, referred to the personality of Elpidophoros, underlining that he is a person who has honored science and a person who for Greece, the Community and our Ecumenical Patriarchate has contributed with his personality and work with his positions so that the other voices that contribute to the settlement of disputes are heard, social, cultural. "The Archbishop", write down, "gives a step to the words of others, even if he is not popular. When we talk about settlement, for dialogue, for mutual understanding, for acceptance of the other, it is important that these voices are heard, so that our society can continue to progress and move forward. “Your Honor, we want you as a member of the academic community, not just for your project, but also because the course and what you have done have in common with the development of the university. A university that ranks in the highest levels of younger universities”, concluded Ms. Vitsilaki.
From his side, the chairman of the Department of Business Administration, Mich. Bekiaris, underlined that in the person of the Archbishop the University also honors the Community with which the island of Chios has very close ties.
“The department is adding an outstanding scientist and a religious leader of international scope to its ranks. The award receives and also gives honor by being accepted by a personality of international scope", write down. End, the director of the graduate program and former chair of the Department, professor Emm. Christofakis referred to the Archbishop of America as a multifaceted personality with work inside and outside the Church.
He talked about his work and his studies, his awards and academic and priestly career. "Mr. Hopeful is the physical and spiritual leader, an important chapter on Homogenia, helper and supporter of the youth of Omogenia", he added.
In addition, referred to the Chiot roots of the Archbishop of America, "a charismatic and enlightened hierarch who overcomes stereotypes and prejudices and with rich virtues derived from his high scientific and theological training. That’ this is the highest honor for the University of the Aegean, this announcement", he stressed.