News

Constantinople Patriarchate is accomplice to persecution of Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Patriarch Kirill (updated)

Moscow, December 21, Interfax - Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia says that the Constantinople Patriarchate is partly to blame for today's persecution of followers of Ukraine's canonical Church.

In his report presented at a meeting of the Moscow Diocese on Friday, Patriarch Kirill summed up the results of 2018, focusing on the situation in Ukraine's church life, where, he said, pressure has been heightened on the clergy and believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, "who do not want to participate in anti-canonical initiatives of political schemers and schismatics."

"The state's highest-ranking officers have started to say ever more often in public that followers of the canonical church are aliens, who have no place in their own country. But it is millions of Ukrainian citizens! The Constantinople Synod and its patriarch have effectively taken the side of the persecutors," Patriarch Kirill said.

The primate of Russian Orthodox Church said that it "deeply pains" him to talk about this situation because it concerns the authorities of the Church that "was our Mother Church" and people with whom the patriarch "has met so many times, prayed, and looked for a common understanding of what serves unity."

Patriarch Kirill also said the Russian Orthodox Church had no other choice but to break off relations with the Constantinople Patriarchate after it declared Ukraine its canonical territory and entered into communion with uncanonical church structures there.

"Communion reflects the unity of a community that gathers around the throne and the chalice. But if there is no unity, what does the sacrament of church unity - communion - turn into then? If there is no unity, how is it possible to serve together? Such profanation must not be allowed," Patriarch Kirill said.

Print this page

Home

News

.	Customize latest news

• Russian Catholics don’t believe in islamization of Europe 07 June 2019, 15:30
• Leaders, members of 15 Jehovah's Witnesses cells held in Dagestan 07 June 2019, 10:55
• World will be better if people follow Bible, Torah, Koran - Putin 06 June 2019, 18:01
• Russian Catholics urge not to have illusions about possible pontiff's visit to Moscow 06 June 2019, 17:05
• The Russian Orthodox Church is not ready to welcome the Pope of Rome in Moscow 06 June 2019, 16:04
• Putin to meet with Pope Francis 06 June 2019, 14:34
• Russian Jews pray for “lifting up” the soul of the reposed wife of the Israel’s president 06 June 2019, 11:32
• Russia's Jews present country as example of tolerance for Europe 04 June 2019, 18:48
• Remembrance of Great Patriotic War protects Russia from xenophobia, anti-Semitism - Putin 04 June 2019, 17:48
• Putin attends unveiling of monument to heroes of resistance in concentration camps 04 June 2019, 17:41
• Russian Muslim community plays major role in combating extremist ideology - PM Medvedev 04 June 2019, 11:28
• Putin notes Russian Muslims' contribution to peoples' unity, fight against extremism 04 June 2019, 11:25
• Last Sobibor uprising survivor dies 03 June 2019, 18:17
• Kiev Patriarchate does not exist, never existed - Patriarch Bartholomew 03 June 2019, 14:54
• Constantinople cannot solve complicated religious situation in Ukraine - Russian Orthodox Church 30 May 2019, 19:45
• Putin congratulates Jews on Salvation and Liberation Day 30 May 2019, 19:00
• Protests against construction of churches plotted by outside forces - Russian Orthodox Church 28 May 2019, 18:42
• Church on site of first Russian settlement Fort Ross in U.S. to be restored 28 May 2019, 17:27
• Russian Orthodox Church to open churches in Cyprus, Sweden 28 May 2019, 17:26
• Yekaterinburg residents offer some 50 sites for church construction 27 May 2019, 18:37
• Patriarch Kirill in meeting with Mijatovic asks Council of Europe to control observance of believers' rights in Ukraine 27 May 2019, 18:35
• Churches in Russia to keep being built as long as people need it - Patriarch Kirill 27 May 2019, 18:14
• Patriarch Kirill hopes for end to discrimination against Orthodox Christians in Ukraine under new president 27 May 2019, 18:13
• Europe, Russia should turn over page of misunderstanding - Patriarch Kirill 27 May 2019, 17:18
• Patriarch Kirill tells secretary general of Council of Europe is concerned about human rights issues 27 May 2019, 14:14
• Putin, Patriarch Kirill discuss matter of plans to build Yekaterinburg church – Peskov 27 May 2019, 13:42
• Metropolitan Kirill compares situation with church construction in Yekaterinburg to tsar's family killing 27 May 2019, 12:31
• Patriarch Kirill sanctifies Church of All Saints in Strasbourg 27 May 2019, 11:27
• Hegumen arrested after stabbing, injuring monk at Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius 24 May 2019, 19:10
• Putin congratulates Patriarch Kirill on name day, suggests he loosen up work schedule 24 May 2019, 17:48

Other news