Most Orthodox Christians support the decision made by the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church to sever Eucharistic communion with the Constantinople Patriarchate, said His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.
“In order for such decisions to be supported by all the people – and now I feel that the absolute majority of Orthodox people support these decisions, the clergy should also put their effort,” His Holiness, Patriarch Kirill, said during the 8th All-Church Congress on Social Service in Moscow on Friday.
The positon of the Russian Orthodox Church will be “very strong, convincing,” the Patriarch said. “I do hope that is the case, but pastoral work on explaining the situation in Ukraine is very important,” the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church added.
On October 11, the Synod of the Constantinople Patriarchate invalidated its 1686 decree on the transfer of the Metropolia of Kiev to Moscow, established its residence in Kiev, and rehabilitated the leaders of self-proclaimed orthodox churches in Ukraine. The Moscow Patriarchate did not recognize these decisions and, after the meeting of the Holy Synod that took place on October 15 in Minsk, announced a complete rupture of relations with Constantinople.
Addressing the congress participants in Moscow, the Patriarch explained that the relationship was severed “precisely because the Patriarchate of Constantinople identified itself with the schismatics – by non-canonically breaking all the rules, it invaded our jurisdiction and forgave the schismatics who were anathematized.”
