Posted on 09/09/2018 5:42:32 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
At a gathering of Orthodox leaders last week, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople insisted that he, as Ecumenical Patriarch, has the authority to approve a bid for autocephaly (self-governance) by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Patriarch Bartholomew, in his address to an August 31 summit meeting of Orthodox prelates, said that the bid for Ukrainian autonomy was not a new development. On the contrary, he said, the Orthodox Church in Kievwhich was established before the Orthodox Church in Moscowhas frequently requested such a move:
Already from the early 14th century, when the See of the Kievan Metropolis was movedwithout the canonical permission of the Mother Churchto Moscow, there have been tireless efforts on the part of our Kievan brothers for independence from ecclesiastical control by the Moscow center.
Patriarch Bartholomew said that the history of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine does not justify any intervention whatsoever by the Church of Russia. He added that Russia, as the one responsible for the current painful situation in Ukraine, is unable to solve the problem. Therefore, he said, the Ecumenical Patriarchate has taken the initiative to resolve the question.
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicculture.org ...
Long overdue.
Patriarch Bartholomew said that the history of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine does not justify any intervention whatsoever by the Church of Russia. He added that Russia, as the one responsible for the current painful situation in Ukraine, is unable to solve the problem.
Patriarch Bartholomew has already been hacked numerous times and is receiving all kinds of threats from Moscow. But as he said, he fears God, not man. Praying along with numerous others that he stay strong and undeterred in the LORD.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.