Albanian primate speaks about ways to resolve OCU problem

Archbishop Joan. Photo: UOJ

His Eminence Archbishop Joan in an interview with the Union of Orthodox Journalists in America spoke about the conflict around the Tomos of autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and how the Orthodox world can find a way out of it.

When asked about the growing pressure, when each Church is expected to determine which side it is on – Constantinople or Moscow – the Primate of the Albanian Church answered categorically: taking anyone's side is always wrong. "One side is always the truth in Christ, but there are different opinions, and we have to resolve these through love and dialogue. If you create sides, you create conflict," he warned.

At the same time, Archbishop Joan emphasized: the Albanian Church firmly maintained its position on the issue of the OCU Tomos – and nevertheless maintains good relations with all sides of the conflict. "Taking sides is always wrong if it implies that one is good and the other is bad. If we talk about these categories, they always divide. We are all brothers, and we have to find a way to solve the problem together. Expressing different opinions does not mean that you do not love the other," the Archbishop Joan explained.

Speaking about Archbishop Anastasios's approach, the primate called him a wise man and a true Christian. His goal was to preserve the unity of the Church and speak truth in love – as the Apostle Paul commanded. "Not just to speak truth, but to speak it with love. In one family, it is not correct to say “presides”; sometimes we can deform the family. There are different opinions," Archbishop Joan quoted his predecessor's words.

According to the conviction of the Primate of the Albanian Church, there can be many paths to resolving the conflict – and they can only be found together, without division into camps.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that, according to Archbishop Joan, first in Orthodoxy does not mean dominant.

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