ROC condemns Phanar actions to reinstate Uminsky in priesthood

Archpriest Vladislav Tsypin. Photo: Orthodoxy.Ru

The ROC stated that the actions of the Synod of the Constantinople Church to reinstate Alexiy Uminsky in his priestly rank are unlawful. Deputy Chairman of the Church Court of the Moscow City Diocese of the ROC, Archpriest Vladislav Tsypin, made this comment to TASS.

"Of course, such actions are not canonical. There are plenty of reasons for protests, but we currently have severed communion with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, so I don't think that every such act should prompt a separate statement from our side. It probably will, but for us, he remains a priest deprived of his rank," Tsypin said.

According to him, the situation with Uminsky is viewed by the Phanar "from a narrow political perspective", while the real reason for defrocking Uminsky lies in his "disobedience to ecclesiastical authority".

"There are canonical grounds for defrocking because during ordination, the candidate for priesthood takes an oath to obey ecclesiastical authority," the priest noted.

Recall that on January 5, 2024, Archpriest Alexiy Uminsky was banned from priesthood for refusing to perform the patriarchal blessing to read the prayer for Holy Russia (commonly referred to as the "prayer for victory") during the Divine Liturgy.

On February 8, the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church confirmed this decision of the court. On February 27, the Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople reinstated Alexiy Uminsky in priesthood.

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