Exarch of Russian Church: Time's not in favor of Patriarchate of Alexandria

In an interview with the Russian School of Experts, Metropolitan Leonid of Klin, Patriarchal Exarch for Africa of the Russian Orthodox Church, said that the Russian Church had never closed the dialog box and will not close it, but time may be lost.

Moreover, he laid a particular emphasis on the need for dialogue: “If tomorrow His Beatitude Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria withdraws his decision to make a liturgical mention of the breakaway group <...> we will immediately sit down at the negotiating table and look for some kind of compromise,” Vladyka said.

However, despite the possibility of dialogue, the Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church in Africa will not be abolished, and the interaction will be built taking into account the circumstances of today. Metropolitan Leonid noted that now there are 170 clerics in two African dioceses with the possibility of further growth to 200 and more. The ROC will not refuse them, and bishops will be appointed to vacant sees in the near future.

“Therefore, clock is ticking and not in favor of the Patriarchate of Alexandria,” summed up the Exarch.

As previously reported by the UOJ, the ROC responded to the accusations of the Greek hierarch.

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