Head of Phanar: We'll always be the first Church while Russians – the fifth
Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. Photo: fosfanariou.gr
Constantinople will always be the first Church, while the Russian one – only the fifth. This was stated by Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, who commented on the modern schism in Orthodoxy, Suspilne reports.
According to the head of Phanar, there is no split yet, and if there is, only “our Russian brothers” are to blame for it, who perceived the autocephaly of the OCU as the revenge for their refusal to participate in the Cretan Council of 2016.
“The dream of our Russian brothers is to be the rulers of Orthodoxy,” he said. “But this will never happen, because the canons of the Orthodox Church and the actions of the Church over the centuries have given primacy to Constantinople. Constantinople will always be the first Church in the system of Orthodox Churches, while the Russian Sister Church will be the fifth."
Earlier, Patriarch Bartholomew said that “by God the individual Orthodox Churches, which have not yet been identified and harmonized after the act of the Mother Church on the Ukrainian Autocephaly, would do so, for the glory of God.”
Read also
Church celebrates feast of Holy Foremost Apostles Peter and Paul
On July 12, the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul, the Apostles' Fast (Peter's Fast) comes to an end for Orthodox Christians.
UGCC cleric criticizes OCU head for awarding Greek Catholic officials
Hieromonk Yustyn Boiko of the Lviv Archeparchy called the awarding of church honors to officials a profanation and cited the example of an OCU order presented to a Greek Catholic official.
Expert who found no defamation in Dumenko’s remarks to face disciplinary action
An Interior Ministry research center has confirmed disciplinary measures against the expert whose findings supported what the Metropolitan’s representatives described as unfounded accusations by the OCU head against Metropolitan Theodosiy.
European Parliament condemns forced Islamization of children in Pakistan
The European Parliament has called on Pakistan to establish a mechanism to protect Christian families.
Church of the Presentation damaged by shelling in Russia’s Kursk Region
The newly built church in the village of Kulbaki, Glushkovo District, was completely gutted by fire after being struck by a projectile.
UOC priests take part in celebrations at Romania’s Putna Monastery
Clergy of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy took part in a festive service at the ancient shrine of the Romanian Orthodox Church.