by Romfea.news
The Russian side reacted immediately to Metropolitan Epiphanius’ of Kiev and All Ukraine yesterday’s ethronment, which took place at the Cathedral of Saint Sophia in Kiev.
In particular, the spokesman of the Patriarch of Moscow, Fr Alexander Volkov, referring to the ceremony of Epiphanius’ enthronement, spoke of a “pitiful spectacle”.
Also, the Deputy Head of the Russian Orthodox Church Department for External Church Relations Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, speaking at TASS, said that “the ‘new Church’ in Ukraine has not been recognized by local orthodox churches except the Patriarchate of Constantinople which founded it.”
As Fr. Nikolai stressed, “no Local Church congratulated the newly elected Primate. While no one, except Patriarch Bartholomew, has sent a representative.”
“The fact that there was no delegation of the Orthodox Church in the enthronement clearly demonstrates the position of the local orthodox churches,” Archpriest Nikolai Balashov added.
