The "arguments" of those opposed to the decisions of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for Ukraine are almost exclusively limited to the issue of the restoration of Philaretos.
This issue is insignificant. The essence of the problem is not in that.
Let's all wait to see how things will evolve and who will eventually receive the...
Tomos of Autocephaly.
After all, the Synod of Orthodox Bishops in Ukraine, and not the Ecumenical Patriarchate, will eventually elect the Archbishop, who will receive the Tomos.
And let's go back to Filaretos... For anyone who really wants to solve the ecclesiastical problem of Ukraine and not to create other, bigger, problems, Filaretos could not be ignored, since he represents more than half of the Orthodox flock in Ukraine! Onoufrios, Metropolitan of the Patriarchate of Moscow, represented so far barely a quarter of the orthodox believers... And this, because until now all Orthodox Churches only recognized Onoufrios... But this is changing now.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate is trying to heal the schisms, to unite as many Orthodox believers as possible under a single Canonical Autocephalous Orthodox Church in Ukraine. In any case, the restoration of Philaretos is an inalienable privilege of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which has been given to it by the decisions of the Ecumenical Councils that are binding for all, whether they like it or not.
In Ecclesiastical History there are several examples of hierarchs, who were first removed and then restored. In any case, the Ecumenical Patriarchate has the right to judge everything irrevocably. This is what the Rules of the Ecumenical Councils define.
When the Ecumenical Patriarchate "recognized" the removal of Philaret, which was made by the Patriarchate of Moscow, the conditions were not favorable for the proper divine operation performed today in Ukraine. The Ecumenical Patriarchate gave the Russians plenty of time to heal those schisms they had themselves caused.
For 30 years Moscow did not want to face the reality. And Onoufrios himself, back in 1991, called for Autocophaly of the Church in Ukraine!!! There is irrefutable proof of all this.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate for many centuries has tolerated an abnormal ecclesiastical situation in Ukraine, trying to persuade the Russians to do the right thing. However, this tolerance caused ecclesiastical tragedy in Ukraine the last 30 years.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate has the responsibility and the right, given to it by the Church's Holy Rules, to intervene and heal this tragedy.
And no one can prevent the Ecumenical Patriarchate from doing its duty. Only God can prevent it. But God Himself, through the Ecumenical Councils, gave these rights to the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
So, anyone who does not obey these decisions, is automatically put out of the Orthodox Church. So simple, so clearly.
