Home page News
Metropolitan Hilarion: Decisions taken by Constant…

Metropolitan Hilarion: Decisions taken by Constantinople run contrary to canonical Tradition of the Orthodox Church

On October 15 in the interview to the “Big Game’ program on the channel 1, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, spoke about the decisions of the Holy Synod on the uncanonical actions of the Patriarchate of Constantinople which has entered into communion with schismatics in Ukraine and encroached upon the canonical territory of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The Statement of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church published on the results of the session held in Minsk says: “To admit into communion schismatics and a person anathematized in other Local Church with all the ‘bishops’ and ‘clergy’ consecrated by him, the encroachment on somebody else’s canonical regions, the attempt to abandon its own historical decisions and commitments – all this leads the Patriarchate of Constantinople beyond the canonical space and, to our great grief, makes it impossible for us to continue the Eucharistic community with its hierarch, clergy and laity.”

Metropolitan Hilarion explained that in compliance with the decision the clergymen of the Russian Orthodox Church will not concelebrate divine services with the clerics of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, and the laypersons will not be able to take Holy communion in churches under its jurisdiction. The archpastor said: “This will certainly raise the question of pastoral care for many Russian believers living in places with no churches of the Russian Orthodox Church, but with churches of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, to which they will not be able to go.”

As to the response of the other Orthodox Churches to the decision taken today, the DECR chairman noted: “I do not want to make any forecast, but I can say that as yet no one Local Church has supported actions of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. These actions can be characterized only as robber’s actions.”

Metropolitan Hilarion added that history knows Ecumenical Councils, Local Councils, but also councils which were called robber councils. ‘It was exactly the robber’s gathering held several days ago in Constantinople. Its decisions run contrary to the canonical Tradition of the Orthodox Church,” Metropolitan Hilarion underscored having in mind the results of the session of the Patriarchate of Constantinople Synod made public on 11 October 2018:“Today our Synod responded to them, in particular to the decision to revoke the Synodal Act of 1686, according to which the Kievan Metropolia had become a part of the Moscow Patriarchate. First, this Act cannot be revoked, and, secondly, the church canons do not stipulate changes of canonical boundaries if at least thirty years passed since their establishment, while in this case over three hundred years have passed.”

Metropolitan Hilarion also said that the Statement of the Holy Synod of October 15 says that canonical boundaries of the present Ukrainian Orthodox Church do not coincide with the boundaries of the Kievan Metropolia of 1686, which was several times smaller.

Besides, he added, the lifting of anathema from Filaret (Denisenko), leader of the Ukrainian schism, is unlawful, because this anathema was not imposed by Constantinople, and can be lifted only by the Russian Orthodox Church. “The Patriarchate of Constantinople has no right to accept appeals from other Local Churches though it is preaching it in the newly invented teaching. We have clearly declared this in our Statement having cited opinions of the authoritative Byzantine canonists.”

Share:
Congratulations of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill to the President of Turkey on his 70th birthday

26.02.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill's condolences in connection with the murder of the monks of the Ziquala Abo Monastery in Ethiopia

24.02.2024

Address by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at the XII Christmas Parliamentary Meetings at the Federation Council of the Russian Federation

23.01.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill: Patriarch of Constantinople is not a free man

07.01.2024

Christmas Message from Patriarch KIRILL of Moscow and All Rus’

06.01.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill had phone conversation with Metropolitan Ioann of Belgorod and Stary Oskol

02.01.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill expresses condolences over deadly earthquake in northwest China

19.12.2023

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill congratulates Mr Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on his re-election as President of Egypt

19.12.2023

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill welcomes the opening of an exhibition dedicated to the decoration of the Church of St Sava in Belgrade

19.12.2023

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill presides over jubilee meeting of Inter-Religious Council of Russia

07.12.2023

Address by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at jubilee meeting of Inter-Religious Council of Russia

07.12.2023

Patriarchal greetings on the occasion of 60th anniversary of the Diocese of Vienna and Austria

26.11.2023

Primate of Russian Church presents historic miracle-working Kazan Icon of the Mother of God to the faithful and celebrates Liturgy in the Kremlin Dormition Cathedral

04.11.2023

Address by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ to the participants of the World Conference of Compatriots Living Abroad

01.11.2023

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill met with the Primate of the Assyrian Church of the East

31.10.2023

Metropolitan Hilarion: Many things in a person's life depend on faith

29.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Holy Spirit is the main treasure of the Christian soul

01.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: Holiness is a constant striving to imitate the Lord Jesus Christ

27.06.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: God does not want to condemn, but to save us

07.03.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord always grants to us the opportunity to display our talents

24.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord has imbued the waters of Jordan with his divine presence to wash away human sins

19.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: to repent means to change your way of life

17.01.2021

On commemoration day of St. Catherine, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk officiated at the Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr In-the-Fields  the representation of the Orthodox Church in America

07.12.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We can always show compassion for people

29.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion celebrates on commemoration day of St. Varlaam of Khutyn at the church of ‘Joy to All the Afflicted’ icon of the Mother of God

19.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We should remember that the life of each human being is in the hands of God

06.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: For God there is nothing impossible

25.10.2020

Metropoplitan Hilarion: The cross which was an instrument of dishonourable execution becomes the symbol of salvation for millions of people

27.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Eucharist is the wedding feast, to which Lord Jesus Christ invites each of us

13.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Faith alone is not enough for salvation

30.08.2020

Page is available in the following languages
Feedback

Fields marked by * are mandatory required

Send a message
Рус Укр Eng Deu Ελλ Fra Ita Бълг ქარ Срп Rom عرب