Russian Church 'Cuts Ties' to Constantinople Over Ukraine

The conflict between the Orthodox Church's two most important leaders over the independence of the Church in Ukraine deepened over the weekend, after the Russian Orthodox Church's Holy Synod announced that it was "suspending cooperation" with the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

The Russian Synod made the announcement after an emergency meeting on Friday to consider a response to the decision of the Constantinople Patriarchate to send two bishops, or "exarchs" to Ukraine, in what is seen as a likely step towards recognition of the ecclesiastical independence of the Church in Ukraine.

The Russian Church strongly opposes any move towards granting the church in Ukraine "autocephaly", or self-governing rights, seeing Ukraine and Kiev as the birthplace of Russian Orthodoxy.

"With profound regret and sorrow the Holy Synod the Russian Orthodox Church learned about the statement made by the Holy Synod of … Constantinople concerning the appointment of its two 'exarchs' to Kiev," the Moscow Patriarchate said.

"Essentially this is a breakdown of relations. To take an example from secular life, the decision is roughly equivalent to cutting diplomatic ties," the Russian Church's Metropolitan Ilarion was quoted by news agencies as saying.

On the ground, the Church in Ukraine is already split between two factions, one loyal to Moscow and another calling itself the Kiev Patriarchate.

The Russian Church has warned of "bloodshed" if the pro-Kiev Church attempts to tale over its main churches and monasteries, such the famous Monastery of the Caves in Kiev.

Ukraine's government and president have placed themselves firmly behind the demand for autocephaly, accusing pro-Moscow clerics of colluding with pro-Russian armed separatists in the east...

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