Although the only bishop who continues to publicly seek ways to reverse the decision made by the Hierarchy is Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythira, media reports attempt to show that there is trouble brewing within the Hierarchy. These media reports claim that there are divisions within the Hierarchy and that the Church of Greece is in grave danger since Saturday.
Members of the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece showed their dissatisfaction with the climate created against Athens.
“This strategy does not make sense,” said the Metropolitan while noting that “should Moscow continues to behave in this way, the wound inflicted on the relations of the two Churches will be extremely difficult to heal.”
The image most Metropolitans have of the tactics of the Russian Orthodox Church in recent times is that of a powerful organisation that does its best to impose its point of view at all costs, risking being isolated and severing centuries-long friendly relations.
Holy Synod in Moscow
Although the entire world is focused today on Moscow, where the Holy Synod will decide its stance towards the Church of Greece, no one seems to be worried about the outcome that most consider a foregone conclusion.
Information indicates that a trend within the Russian Orthodox Church wants to reiterate the break of communion with the Phanar that has already been decided, forbidding even faithful to attend the Divine Liturgy. The moderate argue that the break of communion should only apply to clergymen so that the laypeople will not be in a dilemma.
It is noted that there is a large Russian community living in Greece, which in case of a ban will have to deal with a major problem. Unless this problem is used by the Russian Orthodox Church as an excuse for the establishment of its structures in Greece. This action would be regarded by the Church of Greece as a straightforward act of war.
In any event, on the basis of the points that the Metropolitan of Volokolamsk and several officials of the Patriarchate of Moscow have made on several occasions, it is likely that the break of communion will be the only reaction from the Patriarchate of Moscow unless the idea will come to predominate saying that severing full communion with every Church that recognises the Orthodox Church of Ukraine will lead Moscow to isolation.