Patriarch Kirill chairs extraordinary session of the Holy Synod

On October 17, 2019, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia chaired the extraordinary session of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church held at the Patriarchal and Synodal residence in Danilov Monastery in Moscow. 

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church opened the session and addressed the members of the Holy Synod, saying:

‘Your Beatitude! Your Eminences and Graces! Dear members of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church!

“Today we are opening the extraordinary session of the Synod to consider the issues that have appeared on the Orthodox agenda due to the developments concerning Ukraine and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church because of the known to you actions of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and potential actions of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and other Churches involving recognition of the schismatic group in Ukraine.

“You understand that this matter relates to the very essence of the inter-Church relations, and its negative development can disrupt pan-Orthodox unity. Therefore, with full responsibility for the preservation of Orthodox unity and with full responsibility before our believers, our clerics and bishops, we must arrive at a judgment on this matte”.