Ukrainian Church
Ecumenical Patriarch plans Lithuanian branch, in blow to Moscow
Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios said on Tuesday he would work with Lithuanian authorities to establish a new branch in the Baltic nation to ensure that believers are no longer under the sole supervision of Moscow.
Vartholomeos to Moscow Patriarchate : ‘I couldn’t care less’ about your disruption of communion
Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos derided the Patriarchate of Moscow over its decision to cut off communion with the Church of Constantinople, which is the first ranking church in Eastern Orthodoxy.
Russia-Turkey Pincer Movement Threatens Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Survival
However, a closer look shows that Putin and Erdogan both see the Ecumenical Patriarchate as an extension of Western influence that threatens their respective political ambitions.
Ukraine as catalyst of Moscow's fury
Orthodox church in Moscow, Russia, 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE/YURI KOCHETKOV
Greek Archbishop rejects invite by Patriarch of Jerusalem
Greek Archbishop Ieronymos informed the Holy Synod on Friday that he has refused an invitation from Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem to attend a meeting of Orthodox leaders.
According to a statement issued by the Holy Synod, Ieronymos refused the invite because the calling of such meetings of Orthodox leaders is the sole privilege of the ecumenical patriarch based in Istanbul.
Russian Church severed ties; "Patriarch confesses to schisms"
The Ukrainian Church is independent of the religious administration of Moscow.
In a statement after the meeting in the Moscow Patriarchate, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church stated that it could not, from now on, mention the name of Patriarch Theodore II in his prayers and participate in common prayers.
Patriarch’s Prayer for Ukraine Church Outrages Serbian Bishop
In a sign of continued deep rifts in the Orthodox Church, a Serbian bishop had condemned the Patriarch of Constantinople, the nominal head of the Church, for mentioning the head of the disputed Orthodox Church in Ukraine in a service.
Church feud with Moscow imminent
Amid the turmoil that has engulfed the Orthodox Church over the contentious issue of the Ukrainian Church's independence from Moscow, Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios arrived in Greece on Friday, where he is expected to hold a service Saturday with Greek Archbishop Ieronymos.
- Read more about Church feud with Moscow imminent
- Log in to post comments
Moscow Patriarchate warns Ieronymos over Kiev
Moscow Patriarchate spokesman Vladimir Legoyda has warned that the Russian Orthodox Church will cut off links with any Greek hierarch who commemorates the Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kiev, including Archbishop Ieronymos.
- Read more about Moscow Patriarchate warns Ieronymos over Kiev
- Log in to post comments
Greek Orthodox Church backs independence of Ukrainian Church
The Church of Greece said Wednesday it supported Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios' right to grant independence to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in 2018.
The Holy Synod, which met on Tuesday and Wednesday, said it also recognized Vartholomaios' "privilege" to "further address the issue of recognition."
Vartholomaios lashes out against Moscow Patriarchate
The Istanbul-based ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople, Vartholomaios, who is the first among equals in Orthodox Christendom, lashed out against the Moscow Patriarchate Tuesday over its opposition to the granting of independence to the Ukrainian Church from that of Russia.