Head of Phanar calls himself father of entire Russian nation

Patriarch Bartholomew (far right). Photo: romfea.gr

On August 9, 2020, the head of Phanar, Patriarch Bartholomew, called himself the father of the Russian people and stated that all Russians are “children of the Patriarchate of Constantinople,” the Romfea website reports.

During the divine service in one of the metochions located in the city of Galata and owned by the Russian Monastery of St. Panteleimon on Mount Athos, Patriarch Bartholomew expressed his joy that he celebrated the memory of the great martyr Panteleimon together with Russian-speaking believers.

“This is a blessed meeting of a father with his children today, because if all the pious Russian people are spiritual children of Constantinople, all the more you who live here are our children,” the head of the Phanar said.

According to him, "from here the people of Kievan Rus adopted Christianity, got enlightened and baptised."

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that, according to Metropolitan Eustathios (Spiliotis) of Monemvasia and Sparta of the Greek Orthodox Church, the Head of Orthodoxy on earth is the Patriarch of Constantinople.

Read also