Russian commentators claim that Patriarch Kirill demands unconditional obedience: those disagreeing must retire

Patriarch Kirill demanded the unconditional execution of his orders from all priests, otherwise, in his opinion, they should retire.

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church made such a statement after the liturgy at the Assumption Cathedral of Novorossiysk, MK.ru reports.

“If someone still has doubts, if he should do everything that the Patriarch teaches, leave all doubts!” And do what I command! Because I am not talking about my wisdom, but from the wisdom of the whole episcopate of the Russian Orthodox Church! There is no other way for our Church today! Those who opposes – must retire!”

This statement of Kirill runs contrary to the position of the Russian Orthodox Church in relation to the so-called “dogma of the infallibility of the Pope of Rome”: in the Catholic Church it is believed that in the case when the first hierarch speaks in the name of the Church, he cannot be mistaken.

Orthodoxy, on the contrary, traditionally professed the idea of ​​the necessity of the conciliar decision-making.

In his further speech in Novorossiysk, Patriarch Kirill contemplated on the social mission of the Church and the ministry of priests in it.