Deputy Head of ROC DECR speaks on motives of some Churches recognizing OCU

Deputy Head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Leonid of Vladikavkaz and Alan. Photo: screenshot/YouTube/Tsargrad

The deputy head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Archbishop Leonid of Vladikavkaz and Alan, spoke about the reasons that prompted the recognition by some Local Churches of the OCU on the air of Tsargrad TV channel.

The Archbishop recalled the position of the Synod of the Church of Cyprus, which declared the invalidity of the ordinations of the OCU representatives in February 2019. For a year and a half, nothing has changed for the head of the Church of Cyprus to decide to commemorate Epiphaniy, Vladyka Leonid noted.

The deputy head of the DECR stressed that the ROC is ready for dialogue, but those who recognize the OCU do not say anything constructive.

“But our opponents do not explain anything to us, saying that ‘You know, the Foreign Ministry forced me’, another was forced by compromising evidence, the third is fulfilling the order of the State Department,” the hierarch said.

“I think it’s a litmus test,” he said. And I do not doubt for a second that we will pass this test with dignity and withstand it.

We are always ready for dialogue. But we are not ready for betrayal. We have never done expansion. In this case, they have nothing to convict us. We stand for the protection of canonical fundamentals”.

The Archbishop emphasized that "it is necessary to observe the canons and not to confuse personal interests and ambitions with the benefit of the Mother Church."

As the UOJ reported, Phanar called the upcoming visit of the head of the State Department "a source of joy and honor" for the Church.

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