The Russian Orthodox Church accused Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople of the invasion of its canonical territory and decided to cut religious ties between the two patriarchates during a meeting of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in Minsk on Oct.15.
“The acceptance and recognition of schismatic bishops and the attempt to backtrack its own historic decisions drive the Constantinople Patriarchate out of the canonical boundaries,” reads the statement Russian Orthodox Church published on its website late on Oct. 15.
“And it makes impossible for the bishops of our churches to pray and serve together.”
The Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople on Oct. 11 recognized the legitimacy of bishops of the Kyiv Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church as part of the Constantinople church.
It lifted the anathema, or excommunication, imposed on Filaret, the patriarch of the Kyiv Patriarchate, and on Makariy, metropolitan of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church.
The Synod also approved recognizing the authority of the Constantinople Patriarchate in Ukraine and canceled its 1686 decision to allow the patriarch of Moscow to appoint metropolitans of Kyiv. The Metropolis of Kyiv had been part of the Constantinople Patriarchate from the Christianization of Kyivan Rus in 988 until 1686.
The recognition is an important step towards the creation of an officially recognized independent (autocephalous) Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Russian Orthodox Church said it bans its believers and bishops to take part in prayers and liturgies, conducted in Constantinople Patriarchate churches and cathedrals until the Ecumenical Patriarchate denounces its decision on Ukraine.
“The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church takes the Kremlin’s political course – self-isolation in response for the legitimate decision of the international society,” Arch Bishop Yevstratiy Zorya, the spokesperson of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kyiv Patriarchate wrote on Facebook on Oct. 15.
