This is fantastic news! The Ukrainians, and the Ukrainian Orthodox, have suffered enough abuse and tyranny at Russian hands. The Russian patriarch is less a religious leader, and more a political stooge of Putin.
So glad to see this finally resolved. And kudos to Constantinople for making the right call, despite Russian pressure and financial blackmail.
It is far from resolved. The EP is violating more church canons than I can name and his actions have been criticized or condemned by almost all of the world’s canonical Orthodox churches. His behavior is all but certain to precipitate a very serious schism.
WRONG!!!! Many Eastern European Orthodox outside of Russia regard Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew as an EU/globalist puppet, and Russian Patriarch Kirill as a true spiritual leader.
The real problem is the very weak position of the Ecumenical Patriarchate—a small enclave in muslim Turkish Istanbul, subject to many crippling restrictions. It’s hard to avoid being a globalist puppet under those circumstances.
The botched “Council” in Crete (VERY disappointing to American Orthodox) shows just how weak and pro-globalist (even pro-”gay”!) the Ecumenical Patriarchate has become. Lord have mercy!!!!