Archons: Russian Church patriarch attacked privileges of our patriarchate

Patriarchs Bartholomew and Kirill. Photo: Orthodoxia News Agency

The Archons of Constantinople have published a statement accusing Moscow of systematically attacking the status of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. According to the authors, the Moscow Patriarchate severed communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate and "began efforts to undermine the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s unique status among the Orthodox Patriarchates, attempting to supplant it as the Church with the unique responsibility."

The Archons’ main target of criticism was Patriarch Kirill’s speech at the Reception House of the Russian Foreign Ministry in April 2026. Representatives of the Phanar asserted that the Patriarch’s remarks are part of a “carefully engineered system” of disinformation designed to weaken and ultimately destroy the Holy Mother Church of Constantinople, "all in the pursuit of the Kremlin’s broader goal of dominating the information space."

According to the Archons, one indication of this information campaign was the extensive media coverage of Patriarch Kirill’s speech, particularly the significant attention it received from the TASS news agency.

The Archons argued that the Russian Patriarch’s claims about an “alien teaching” constitute a “flagrant denial of the established canonical procedure of the Church.” As evidence, they cited the decisions of the Council of Chalcedon in 451, which, in their interpretation, bestowed upon Constantinople the right to hear appeals from clergy of other metropolitanates.

As additional evidence of what they described as an “information war,” the Archons pointed to a January statement by Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service. In that statement, the agency criticized Patriarch Bartholomew, accusing him of “dismembering Orthodox Ukraine.” The Phanar representatives noted that the text was republished in more than 1,800 publications within a week.

The Archons also accused Moscow of “violating canonical order” through the Russian Orthodox Church’s activities in Africa. They described the establishment of the African Exarchate as a “hybrid influence operation” disguised as pastoral care.

In conclusion, the Archons stated that they do not possess “sophisticated propaganda tools,” but will counter Russia’s actions with the “power of truth.”

As the UOJ reported, an Archon of Constantinople recently proposed convening a Council of Primates.

Read also