The Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate have issued a strongly worded statement expressing “dismay and regret” over meetings taking place in Washington this week between White House officials, Congressional leaders, and Russian Orthodox clergy described as advocates for Vladimir Putin and his war in Ukraine.
In their public announcement, the Archons emphasize that these clergy are “boosters of Vladimir Putin’s unjust, immoral and monstrous war against Ukraine,” and warn that their presence in Washington constitutes a dangerous attempt to manipulate American policymakers.
Citing a report from The Hill, the Archons note that “lobbyists and clergy with ties to the Russian Orthodox Church, which has been a staunch backer of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, are campaigning this week on Capitol Hill and meeting with the Trump administration.”
The Archons sharply criticize what they call a “deceptive attempt to legitimize Russia’s use of the Orthodox Church as an arm of its aggressive foreign policy.” They add that the delegation is seeking “an American blessing upon its misleading tactics, which result in the persecution of the Orthodox Christians in Ukraine.”
Praise for Rep. Joe Wilson
The statement expresses “heartfelt gratitude” to U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) for drawing attention to the suffering of the canonical Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Rep. Wilson is quoted directly:
“The canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church is facing increasing pressure and persecution in Ukraine.”
“The Russian Orthodox Church is not a separate religious organization but an extension of the Russian state.”
“Evangelizing is illegal in Russia and Christians are targeted and killed in Ukraine. Members should not entertain this intelligence operation.”
The Archons affirm that Rep. Wilson is highlighting a “deplorable situation” to which Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew “has called the world’s attention for years.”
Historical Context and Continued Russian Influence
The announcement recounts the events of 2019, when Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew granted autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. A “splinter group calling itself the Ukrainian Orthodox Church” chose to remain aligned with the Moscow Patriarchate.
According to the Archons, this Moscow-aligned structure is “now targeting and killing members of the canonical Orthodox Church in Ukraine, targeting civilians in order to sow terror among the population and make them too frightened to join the canonical Orthodox Church of Ukraine.”
Rep. Wilson, they note, “rightly” points out that both the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) “have been operating as an extension of the Russian state,” a concern that the Ecumenical Patriarch has publicly raised “on numerous occasions.”
Call to the Trump Administration
The Archons conclude with an urgent appeal: “We urge the Trump administration to cancel this meeting with what are essentially Russian state agents, and to stand in solidarity with the suffering Ukrainian people and the canonical Orthodox Church of Ukraine.”
They stress that American officials should not be misled into offering legitimacy to actors who serve, in their words, “the foreign policy aims of the Russian state under the guise of religious dialogue.”
