Hong Kong, July 1, 2013
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According to the statement of Metropolitan Nicetas, the jurisdiction of the Metropolia of Hong Kong of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, founded in 1996, covers 11 countries of the south-east Asia, including China. The Metropolia of Hong Kong is registered as a "Church" by the Hong Kong parliament but is not officially recognized in China, although it does maintain good relations with the Chinese authorities.
The Chinese authorities have yet to recognize the Orthodox Church officially. The Greek Metropolitan of Hong Kong claims that, "The lack of recognition is mainly caused by a bad memory left in this region by Russia as a colonial power, and by the Russian government and the Russian Orthodox Church’s nationalist claims made in recent years."
The Metropolitan noted that the Metropolia of Hong Kong readily responds to requests from diplomatic representatives of Greece and other countries, and serves the religious needs of all Orthodox believers regardless of their nationality, reports the Amen agency.
