Russian clerics sever ties with Constantinople over 'encroachment' on Russian Orthodox Church's canonical territory

The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, which gathered in Minsk, Belarus, on Oct. 15, decided to break the eucharistic communication with the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

"At the meeting of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, held in Minsk on October 15, 2018, the Statement of the Holy Synod was adopted in connection with the encroachment of the Constantinople Patriarchate on the canonical territory of the Russian Orthodox Church," says a statement on the website of the Russian Orthodox Church, Censor.NET reports citing UNIAN. 

"Members of the Holy Synod found it impossible to continue the eucharistic communication with the Patriarchate of Constantinople," the statement reads.

Read more: "Russia to protect interests of Orthodox faithful," - Kremlin vows to intervene in Ukraine’s local church creation

On April 17, 2018, President Poroshenko said Ukraine was closer than ever before to creating an autocephalous united local church.

On Sept. 2, hierarchs held meetings (Synaxis) of the Hierarchy of the Ecumenical Throne Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) to confirm that the Church of Constantinople is authorized, without the consent of other churches, to grant autonomy, or autocephaly, to a church that has requested it. This paves the way for autocephality of Ukraine's church. Further measures, such as the adoption of documents at the Synod, are expected to be taken in October.

Subsequently, on Sept. 7, Ecumenical Patriarchate has appointed two Exarchs in Kyiv as part of preparations for granting autocephaly to Ukraine's Orthodox church. "Within the framework of the preparations for the granting of autocephaly to the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, the Ecumenical Patriarchate has appointed as its Exarchs in Kyiv His Excellency Archbishop Daniel of Pamphilon from the United States, and His Grace Bishop Hilarion of Edmonton from Canada, both of whom are serving the Ukrainian Orthodox faithful in their respective countries under the Ecumenical Patriarchate," the Ecumenical Patriarchate said in an announcement.

On Sept. 25, the UOC-MP declared that it was demanding that the Patriarchate of Constantinople withdraw its exarchs from Ukraine. In particular, the Holy Synod of the UOC-MP at a meeting held in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra September 25, expressed its attitude regarding the appointment of the Exarchs of the Constantinople Patriarchate to Kyiv.

Read more: Ecumenical Patriarchate restores Ukraine’s Patriarch Filaret, Archbishop Makarii to canonical status

On Oct.11, 2018, Ecumenical Patriarchate has decided to proceed to the granting of autocephaly to the Church of Ukraine. In addition, the legal binding of Synod’s Letter of 1686 was abolished, thus pulling the Kyiv Metropolis from under Moscow jurisdiction. The Ecumenical Patriarchate also reinstated head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Philarchate Filaret and head of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church Makariy in their canonical status.

On Oct. 12, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP) called for the episcopate, clergy and believers of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC) and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) to begin preparations for a unifying Council.