Moscow
struck the unity of Orthodoxy and
Ecumenical
Patriarchate's response to Moscow.
Patriarch
Bartholomew’s interview to an Armenian journal
The
controversy continues related to the efforts of Ukraine to establish
an Orthodox Church not affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate.
Moscow does not want the Ecumenical
Patriarchate in Constantinople to send representatives to the church
in Ukraine. The Ecumenical Patriarchate in regard of the topic spoke
in September
21, 2018 to
Agos, the
Armenian weekly of Constantinople, founded by murdered journalist
Hrant Dink
Ferda
Balancar (Q):
In relation to the problems that have arisen regarding the Ukrainian
Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Hilarion, head of the Department for
External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, declared that
if the Ecumenical Patriarchate transfers the Ukrainian Church from
the spiritual territory of the Moscow Patriarchate, they will cut
their ties with the Ecumenical Patriarchate. What does the Ecumenical
Patriarchate think about this threat?
Ecumenical
Patriarch (EP):
As you know, the Ecumenical Patriarchate is the Mother Church of all
autocephalous churches, with the exception of the four ancient
churches of Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Cyprus. The
Patriarchates of Moscow, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Georgia, as
well as the Churches of Greece, Poland, Albania, the Czech lands,
Finland, and Estonia, were separated from the spiritual jurisdiction
of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which granted them the right of
autocephaly or autonomy, and even the status of patriarchate to some.
It is, therefore, within the duties of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to
determine when it is time for a Church to become autocephalous. In
this determination, our Patriarchate always maintains the same
criteria: The Church must be based in an independent state, while the
petition for autocephaly must be made by that church and state. In
the case of Ukraine, our Patriarchate is doing exactly the same as it
has done in all other cases. Consequently, the reaction of the Moscow
Patriarchate cannot be interpreted with ecclesiastical criteria.
Nevertheless, it is inappropriate for a Church to behave and act on
the basis of political criteria instead of spiritual criteria.
Moreover, it is inappropriate to threaten the unity of the Church on
the basis of these political criteria. Some days ago, our Patriarch
had already stated that the Ecumenical Patriarchate neither
threatens, nor is threatened. Yet, today we are unfortunately
experiencing the realization of the threat that you mention: the
Church of Moscow announced that it is ceasing the commemoration of
the Ecumenical Patriarch. Anyone that cuts the commemoration of its
head is in danger of spiritual death, in danger of estrangement from
the rest of the body.
Q:
Is this stance of the Moscow Patriarchate toward the Ecumenical
Patriarchate limited only to developments in Ukraine? Or is this
stance perhaps an expression of an attempt to increase the power that
Moscow has within the Orthodox world?
EP:
This is an important question, because it gives us an opportunity to
say a little more about the concept of power in the Church of Christ.
The truth is that the Moscow Patriarchate still operates under strong
dependence on the state, a reality that prevents it from focusing
more on spiritual and ecclesiastical criteria. Both from the time of
the Czars and the Soviet Union and to this day under Vladimir Putin,
the close relationship with worldly power generates problems for the
stance and behavior of the Church of Moscow toward all the other
Orthodox Churches: those under its influence are considered
subjugated and faithful followers, while those it finds disagreeable
are treated with distrust and aggression. We experienced this
division again very recently when, in June 2016, the Moscow
Patriarchate cancelled its participation in the Holy and Great
Council of the Orthodox Church literally at the last moment, luring
away their usual satellites, who quite coincidentally also happen to
enjoy close political ties with Moscow: the Patriarchate of Antioch
(Syria), the Patriarchate of Bulgaria, and the Patriarchate of
Georgia. In this way, Moscow once again dealt a blow to the unity of
Orthodoxy. In response, then, to your question, the Moscow
Patriarchate indeed seems to be acting in accordance with worldly
criteria for the exercise of power, forgetting that the strength of
the Church is spiritual, and its head is our Lord Jesus Christ.
Q:
What are the consequences of this behavior of the Moscow Patriarchate
for the Orthodox world? Or what sort of repercussions can this have
on the Orthodox world in the near future?
EP:
The adoption of worldly and political criteria by churches can only
lead us to error and divisions of a worldly nature; divisions, in
other words, guided by geopolitical and other areas of influence.
However, these matters are fluid and constantly change, while
spiritual criteria and principles never change. The first leads to
divisions, while the spirit, the Holy Spirit, unites, sanctifies and
protects us. Therefore, the consequences of this behavior lead us to
division in the Orthodox world. Persevering with ecclesiastical and
spiritual criteria is the secret of Church unity.