LAST UPDATE 21:01
On May 30, 2019, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church began its session at the historic building of the Sacred Governing Synod in St. Petersburg. The session is chaired by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.
Among other things, the Holy Synod also dealt with the ecclesiastical issue of Ukraine.
“We know that Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus is making some efforts to resolve the current situation in Ukraine,” said Russian Orthodox Church spokesman Vladimir Legoyda.
He also said that “the Russian Church has repeatedly expressed the desire and highlighted the necessity of a Pan-Orthodox solution to the issue because it cannot be solved unilaterally.”
Finally, Vladimir Legoyda referred to the complexity of the Ukrainian issue, which has been worsened after the “anticanonical”, as he described them, decisions of the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Opening the session, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Kirill, made introductory remarks: “I greet all the permanent and temporary members of the Holy Synod. I am glad that we have gathered in these historic walls. Despite colossal upheavals through which our Church has gone through, many things are coming back to their natural course, even if in a somewhat different format. The connection of times does exist. It is quite evident, and the Church is the spiritual institution that addresses not only the past, as scientists, historian, cultural workers do, but also reveals the connection of times so necessary for the life of the people. Indeed, without the preservation of traditions, without the preservation of spiritual connection with the past it is difficult to imagine the progressive development and the future. That is why our being in these walls is connected not only with remembrances of the glorious past of our Church but also mobilizes us for the development of our life for the good of our Church and our peoples while preserving every good things”.
Source: Patriarchate of Moscow
