ROC Primate: Constantinople identified itself with schismatics

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus

The Patriarchate of Constantinople has identified itself with the schismatics and fell into schism itself. It was said on this October 19 by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus, reports TASS.

“The Patriarchate of Constantinople identified itself with the schismatics. Uncanonically, breaking all the rules, it invaded our jurisdiction, forgave the schismatics. So, identifying itself with the schismatics, it became schismatic itself,” said the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, speaking at a plenary session of the VIII All-Church Congress on Social Service.

Patriarch Kirill also noted that the majority of believers support the decisions of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, adopted on October 15.

“Now I feel that absolute majority of the Orthodox are supportive of this decision,” the Patriarch said. “The clergy must do their best to ensure that such actions of the hierarchy have the broad support of our pious people.”

On 15 October, 2018, the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church broke off the Eucharistic communion with the Church of Constantinople. Also, the hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church called "Primates and Sacred Synods of Local Orthodox Churches for a proper assessment of the anti-canonical acts of the Patriarchate of Constantinople."

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