Russian special services voice new claims against Patriarch Bartholomew

Patriarch Bartholomew in the Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi. Photo: UOJ

The Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) of the Russian Federation has published new accusations against Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. According to a statement by intelligence service representatives, the Patriarch "wants to subordinate the Georgian Orthodox Church (GOC) to his influence, taking advantage of the death of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of All Georgia."

The SVR asserts that the Primate of Constantinople "wishes to promote to the vacant position a representative of the GOC on whom he could rely." According to the Russian intelligence service, he sees as candidates Metropolitan Abraham (Garmelia) of Western Europe and Metropolitan Gregory (Berbichashvili) of Poti and Khobi.

The text states that Patriarch Bartholomew "presents them to his inner circle as the most suitable executors of his will."

The SVR publication itself is written using harsh and, in places, offensive language.

In the text, Patriarch Bartholomew is described as a "Constantinopolitan schismatic" who "is carried away in his arrogance" and "continues to stubbornly pursue a treacherous line aimed at dividing world Orthodoxy.”

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the SVR had already published harsh statements against the Patriarch. The Russians called the Ecumenical Patriarch "the devil in the flesh" and "the antichrist in cassock."

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