"Remove Exarch": Patriarch of Alexandria wrote to Russian Church Primate

On February 14, 2022, Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria sent a letter to the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, demanding that the head of the Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church in Africa be removed, reports romalewfronimati.blogspot.com.

Calling Patriarch Kirill “beloved brother in Christ the Lord” and “concelebrant of our Humbleness,” the head of the Church of Alexandria noted that the decision of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church to establish an Exarchate in Africa is “completely anti-canonical and goes beyond the scope of orthodox ecclesiology.”

Patriarch Theodore is sure that the position of the ROC regarding the OCU as a schismatic organization is “not serious” and the Russian Church does not have the authority to judge those who recognized the OCU.

He also informed Patriarch Kirill that he has until recently endured “in prayerful and expressive silence”, “anticipating the abolition, the canonically and ecclesiologically ungrounded creation of an “Exarchate” in the territory of the Patriarchate of Alexandria.”

The primate of the Church of Alexandria considers Bishop Leonid of Klin to be "never the 'exarch' of Africa". However, "so that the evil does not become incurable," he called on Patriarch Kirill, "our dear friend," to immediately revoke "the so-called ‘Exarch’ and deprive him of his appointment."

“Otherwise, we want to subject him to punishment in the form of removal from the high ministry of the High Priesthood, as required by the divine and sacred rules,” Patriarch Theodore threatened.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the Patriarchate of Alexandria summoned the clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church to the church court.

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