We try to convince them to Orthodoxy with our daily behavior

Bishop Ambrose (in the miter), in the back: Archbishop Chrysostomos and Archimandrite Jerome

An interview with Bishop Ambrose (Cubas) of Recife, an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Rio de Janeiro and Olinda-Recife of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church.

How is the current situation of the Church in Brazil?

The diocese has about 1,200 baptized believers, but many of them alienated to the church after problems with the Church in Portugal [the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church in 2000 severed connection with the underlying Orthodox Church in Portugal because of the theological and financial irregularities - editor. ed]. We have seven parishes and two monasteries. Two bishops, 11 priests, a monk, two nuns, two subdeacons and a novice serve within the diocese.

In what way is missionary activity carried out?

On Sundays and holidays, we celebrate Liturgies in parishes and monasteries, but we also celebrate services in the weekdays. Most people in Brazil are Roman Catholics, who in addition have a tendency to spiritualism. It is very difficult to attract them to Orthodoxy. We do not use proselytism, but try to convince them to Orthodoxy with our everyday behavior. We invite them to worship and other events organised by us.

What problems does the Church in Brazil suffer from?

We have many problems, mostly due to the size of our country. Brazil is a very big country, almost like a continent. Two bishops and the amount of priests we have, are not enough to meet with the faithful and people interested in the Orthodox Church scattered throughout the country.

Another big problem is money. Brazil is a developing country, people are struggling from survival with the money they earn. They cannot provide sufficient support for the Church. For example, I and Archimandrite Jerome (Alves) have to have secular jobs [the bishop Ambrose works in a bank - editor. ed].

What relations do you have with other Orthodox jurisdictions in Brazil?

We have established fraternal relations with other canonical Orthodox jurisdictions in Brazil. We invite their representatives to our events and they return the favor to us.

What are the relationships you have with the Church in Poland?

To answer this question, I have to summarize the history of our Church in Brazil. In 1986, the Portuguese Metropolitan Gabriel [then a member of the non-canonical Holy Synod of Milan - editor. red] received into his Church several Brazilians and instituted two parishes: in Rio de Janeiro and Recife. In 1991, the Orthodox Church in Portugal has been received by the PAOC as the Metropolitanate of Spain, Portugal and Brazil, with Metropolitan Gabriel as its primate. After the death of Metropolitan Gabriel [in 1997 - editor. ed] Metropolitan John was elected the new primate. He caused a lot of problems there. His actions led to the separation of the Church in Brazil from the Metropolitanate and the disconnection of the Church in Portugal from the PAOC. Since that time we have visited Poland several times [the last time in 2007 - editor. ed], and repeatedly hosted representatives of the Church in Poland in Brazil.

Thank you.

Bishop Ambrose of Recife (Ezequiel de Almeida Cubas) was born on 6 September 1955 in Capao Bonito (Brazil). In 1980, he graduated from the Faculty of Administration and statics on Faculdades Integradas Barros Melo. Later, he completed an MBA graduate in energy management. Apart from the Portuguese he speaks English and French.

In 1988, he became conductor of the monastery church of Transfiguration in Mafra (Portugal). Three years later, he received subdeacon cherotesia. In 1997, he professed the monastic vows, the same year he was ordained deacon and priest and also was elevated to the rank of archimandrite.

20 July 1998, with the consent of the Council of Bishops of the PAOC, in the cathedral church of Blessed Virgin Mary in Rio de Janeiro, he was ordained a bishop. The ceremony was attended by Archbishop Chrysostomos (primate of the Polish diocese in Brazil) and six bishops from Portugal, who were then under the care of the PAOC. Polish hierarchy was represented by Archbishop Simon of Łódź and Poznań.

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