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ROC takes timeout to clarify the situation brought about by Patriarch Bartholomew’s statements

07.09.2018, 12:52
ROC takes timeout to clarify the situation brought about by Patriarch Bartholomew’s statements - фото 1
The Moscow Patriarchate considers the latest statements by Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople to be one of the results of the current political tension around Russia.

The Moscow Patriarchate considers the latest statements by Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople to be one of the results of the current political tension around Russia.

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“The political tension that exists now in the world around our country, as we regret to observe, sometimes affects the Church,” said the spokesman of Patriarch Kirill, Fr Alexander Volkov, on Radonezh radio broadcast, Interfax-Religion reports.

As reported, at the Synaxis of the Church of Constantinoplein Istanbul, Patriarch Bartholomew said that Constantinople has a priority right to resolve problems in the Orthodox world. He also defined as non-canonical the “interference” of Russia and the Moscow Patriarchate in the church affairs of Ukraine and reserved that right for himself only.

These and other statements made by the Patriarch of Constantinople in recent days caused a serious misunderstanding on the part of the Russian Orthodox Church, said the press secretary of Patriarch Kirill.

“After the meeting [of Patriarch Kirill and Bartholomew on August 31st], we have witnessed a number of incomprehensible statements made by the Constantinople hierarchy. Now, I think we need to take a timeout and get some additional clarification,” added Fr. Volkov.

According to him, those fragments from the speech of Patriarch Bartholomew, appearing on some American Greek-speaking sites, “cause, at a minimum, bewilderment and surprise, and to a greater extent, a serious misunderstanding.”

“We need to be patient in order to finally clarify everything,” said Patriarch Kirill’s spokesman.

Archpriest Andriy Novikov, a member of the Synodal Biblical and Theological Commission of the Moscow Patriarchate, defined the speech of Bartholomew I at the Synaxis as “heresy and the tendency for the so-called Eastern Papistry.”