By Efi Efthymiou
A new wave of tension in Orthodoxy has been sparked by a statement of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow regarding the upcoming election of a new Patriarch in Georgia, marking what appears to be his clearest intervention to date in the internal affairs of another Church.
The Patriarch of Moscow is, in essence, warning the future Patriarch of Georgia, whoever may be elected, not to proceed with the recognition of the autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
These remarks were made during an event held a few days ago at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which he visited together with Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, where they were warmly received by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
However, in the text released by the Moscow Patriarchate regarding the meeting, this particular statement was nowhere to be found, and in the video published on the Patriarchate’s website, the relevant segment appears to have been removed. The footage was located on other Russian platforms, where the Patriarch’s remarks about his “relations” with other Churches are clearly heard.
In the statements omitted from the official communiqué Patriarch Kirill speaks of an “intervention” by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the ecclesiastical life of Ukraine.
He emphasizes that only three Primates have recognized the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, while making special reference to the “particular position held by the Patriarchates of Antioch and Jerusalem.”
He also expressed satisfaction that the newly elected Primates in Albania and Bulgaria have not changed their stance on the Ukrainian issue, and voiced hope that “the same will occur in the Orthodox Church of Georgia, which will soon elect its new Primate.”
As for the alignment of the Patriarch of Jerusalem with Moscow, this has been noted repeatedly, as has the demonstrative disregard shown by Patriarch Theophilos toward the Ecumenical Patriarch, including his “omission” to visit the Patriarchal Church of St. George in Constantinople during a recent visit—something that, to his credit, Patriarch Ioannis of Antioch did.
In Georgia, the shortlist of three candidates has already been drawn up, with expectations confirming the lead of Moscow’s preferred candidate, Metropolitan Shio of Senaki.
The statements of the Patriarch of Moscow constitute a direct and blunt intervention in the affairs of another Church, especially significant given the high stakes involved, namely the election of a new Patriarch.
It is worth recalling that about a month ago, Russian intelligence services (SVR), in their second statement within a short period, accused the Ecumenical Patriarch of attempting to manipulate and influence the election of a new Patriarch of Georgia, in order to secure the election of a hierarch “of his liking.”
Read Patriarch Kirill’s statement and watch the video of his remarks (from 15:00)
“We are currently facing a difficult issue—the intervention of the Phanar, the district of Constantinople where the Ecumenical Patriarchate is based, in the ecclesiastical life of Ukraine. All of this has created a crisis in our Orthodox relations. Three Primates have supported the actions of Constantinople on Ukrainian territory.
Unfortunately, this has further worsened the situation in global Orthodoxy. At the same time, the majority of Primates and hierarchs in the Orthodox world either oppose the uncanonical intervention of Constantinople or avoid publicly expressing their position on this issue.
Some Churches do not support the intervention of the Phanar in Ukraine. A special place is held by the Patriarchates of Antioch and Jerusalem. This stance carries particular weight in the Orthodox world. The Churches of Bulgaria and Albania, where new Primates have recently been elected, have not changed their position on the Ukrainian issue.
We hope that the same will be the case in the Orthodox Church of Georgia, which will soon elect its new Primate following the repose, in March of this year, of the late Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II.
What has been said about the complexity of relations among the Orthodox Churches on the Ukrainian issue would have remained an internal ecclesiastical matter, had it not concerned the rights of millions of Orthodox faithful in Ukraine.”
