Russian Church chides remarks by Constantinople patriarch on Ukrainian autocephaly

The Russian Orthodox Church was puzzled and saddened by recent ‘strange’ statements from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople who said that the Russian Church would have to put up with autocephaly for Ukraine, Chairman of the Synodal Department for the Church’s Relations with Society and Mass Media Vladimir Legoida told TASS on Tuesday.

"It is very strange and sad to hear such statements from the Constantinople Patriarchate. When they say that ‘we will have to agree,’ this is not consistent with the allegations that the Phanar is trying to tackle all issues in the spirit of love and harmony," he said.

Legoida stressed that despite the recent statements, the Russian Orthodox Church hoped the issue would be resolved peacefully. "We would like very much for them (these issues) to be resolved that way and we have kept up hope that this is possible. That is why we pray for that every day. That was why Patriarch Kirill flew to Istanbul on August 31 to solve the existing problems during a fraternal conversation, not by referring to Constantinople’s nonexistent exclusive rights, but in the spirit of the Gospel. That has not happened so far. Let’s hope the situation will change in the future," he added.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople earlier said he would not backtrack on the issue of granting autocephaly to the Ukrainian Church despite the Russian Orthodox Church’s concern. He was also confident that Moscow would have to adhere to this decision.

Ukraine’s church crisis

On October 11, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople decided to proceed with granting autocephaly to the Ukrainian Church. It revoked the 1686 decision on transferring the Kiev Metropolitanate under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate and reinstated the heads of two non-canonical churches in Ukraine, Filaret of the Kiev Patriarchate and Makariy of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Church, to their hierarchical and priestly ranks. In addition, it announced plans to bring back the Kiev Metropolitanate under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

On October 15, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church said in response to that move that full communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople was no longer possible.