Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria has sent a letter to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Hierarchs of the Ecumenical Throne, voicing grave concerns over recent actions by the Russian Orthodox Church in Africa. He condemns these actions as attempts to undermine Christian unity.
In his letter, delivered amid the ongoing Synaxis of the Hierarchy of the Ecumenical Throne in Constantinople, Patriarch Theodore criticized Russia’s actions as “completely unjust, anti-brotherly, anti-church, and anti-canonical.” He highlighted a recent uncanonical move by Russia, which appointed a Hierarch as Patriarchal Exarch in Africa on October 11, 2023. This Hierarch has allegedly established himself illegally in Cairo, within the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, and has begun operations across Africa.
The Patriarch emphasized that this intrusion violates Church canons and expressed dismay at the “deafening silence” of other Orthodox Church Primates, who have shown indifference to this breach. He denounced the lack of response from both ancient Patriarchal Thrones and newer Autocephalous Churches, suggesting that their silence effectively permits the continuation of these uncanonical actions.
Patriarch Theodore questioned the rationale behind the “unacceptable, unjust, and unholy silence” in the face of the Russian Church’s encroachment into African parishes and the Patriarchate’s jurisdiction. He concluded his letter by urging the Hierarchs of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to act as “angels of light” and to raise awareness about the violations suffered by the Patriarchate of Alexandria, aiming to restore canonical order.
The Patriarch’s letter follows in Greek:
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
