Speaking to Parapolitika 90.1, Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon commented on the recent verbal attack by Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) against the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, as well as the prospects for reopening the historic Halki Theological School.
Elaborating further on the SVR’s verbal attack against the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon initially remarked: “This is not the first attack. Such attacks usually come from ecclesiastical quarters, but this time they came from political ones. In the current situation in Russia, the two pillars, political and ecclesiastical, are communicating vessels, so this does not surprise us. Whether the attacks come from one side or the other, the same line is being followed.”
He added, “There is irritation and unseemly language, but we’ve heard similar accusations before. These are unfounded, and they reveal their anxiety.”
When asked if he believes the Moscow Patriarchate is undermining, the Metropolitan of Chalcedon said: “I believe that everything said by the intelligence services was done with the approval, blessing, or concurrence of the Patriarchate of Moscow. We have never closed the door to dialogue. His All-Holiness showed goodwill from the beginning in an effort to establish a common stance on the issue of Ukraine, but they chose not to walk this path together. His All-Holiness continues to commemorate the Patriarch of Moscow canonically.”
Finally, regarding the issue of the Halki Theological School, he commented, “I believe that things are moving very well. Following his meeting with the President of the United States, President Erdoğan has stated that he will discuss this issue with His All-Holiness. I believe that, at this moment, President Erdoğan is demonstrating goodwill regarding the reopening of the Halki Theological School. We are optimistic that we are on the right path and that the Turkish president is disposed to cooperate with the relevant ministries so that the school can reopen as early as this September, as His All-Holiness has indicated. We hope and believe that, when the meeting with the president takes place, matters will be set on the right course because I believe this is also the will of the Turkish president.”
Source: parapolitika.gr
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou
