Newly-elected head of the Church of Finland criticizes ROC
Head of the Finnish Orthodox Church. Photo: aamunkoitto.fi
Metropolitan Elia (Wallgren), the newly elected Primate of the Finnish Orthodox Church (the jurisdiction of the Phanar), outlined his principled position on Russian aggression and the role of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) in this conflict in his first statement after his election, reports the edition Aamun koitto.
Metropolitan Elia sharply criticized the official line of the ROC, stressing that the restoration of inter-church relations in the near future is impossible. “Even after the end of the war, a return to previous relations is impossible,” he said, noting that the ROC leadership fully supports the ideology of the so-called “Russian world”.
His position continues the line laid down by the previous Primate, Metropolitan Leo, who also openly condemned the ROC's actions, calling them “Manichaean heresy”.
As the UOJ reported, the newly-elected Metropolitan Elia will travel to Istanbul on 29 November, where he will take part in a meeting of the Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople on 1 December. The Synod is to formally approve his candidacy for the post of Primate.
Read also
Priests and laity of Rivne Eparchy donate blood for children with cancer
In Rivne, the UOC clergy and laity have donated blood for children undergoing treatment for cancer.
Kyiv seminary students meet with People’s Artist Larisa Kadochnikova
Students of Kyiv’s theological schools spoke with the legend of Ukrainian cinema, who shared her memories of filming "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors".
Bancheny Monastery reports provocation
The UOC monastery in Bancheny has reported a provocation by unidentified individuals.
Romanian Church to hold joint prayer for peace in Ukraine
On the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Ukraine, special prayers for an end to the hostility will be offered in all churches of the Romanian Patriarchate, both in the country and abroad.
Armenian bishops call on authorities to stop Church persecution
At a meeting in Austria, hierarchs of the Armenian Apostolic Church reaffirmed their faithfulness to Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians and called on the authorities to stop the persecution of the clergy.
Italian media: Ukrainian authorities persecute the country’s largest confession
The Italian outlet L’Identità reported on mass searches, the arrests of clergy, and the ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which it describes as the largest Church in Ukraine.