Exarch of Africa: Phanar's words on ROC sound like "Stop thief!" proverb

Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, Metropolitan Leonid. Photo: valenteshop.ru

The Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, Metropolitan Leonid of Klin, said in an interview with RIA Novosti that the statement of the Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople regarding the creation of the Patriarchal Exarchate in Africa was inappropriate.

According to Metropolitan Leonid, "the statement of the Patriarchate of Constantinople evokes tragic laughter and reminds of the well-known Russian proverb "Stop the thief!" (meaning no one shouts “thief!” louder than thieves, i.e. the Patriarchate of Constantinople in this case – Trans. note).

Metropolitan Leonid said that the ROC is restoring canonical order on the African continent.

“It is not we who trespassed on the canonical territoriality of another Church, it is not we who subjected the Ukrainian people to troubles and travails, it is not we who abscond from a reasonable fraternal dialogue that would help cool the mentor tone of the Primate of the Church of Constantinople. As for the canonical order on the African continent, it was restored under the omophorion of the Russian Orthodox Church. The ROC will henceforth stop anti-canonical actions of any leaders who encroach on the laws, foundations, and traditions of the Church,” said Metropolitan Leonid.

The UOJ wrote that, according to the Exarch of Africa, the Russian Church is not engaged in expansion.

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