Home page News
Panel discussion on “Fanar’s actions in Ukrai…

Panel discussion on “Fanar’s actions in Ukraine: Reflection in the media space” at Faith and Word festival

On October 20, 2021, during the 9th International Faith and Word Festival held from October 18-22 at the Klyazma rest house, a panel discussion on “Fanar’s Actions in Ukraine: Reflection in the Media Space”, a major international event, took place as part of the festival. 

Among the participants in the discussion were Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, secretary for inter-Orthodox relations, Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate; Protodeacon Alexander Karpenko, editor-in-chief, Foma v Ukraine magazine; V. Anisimov, head of the press service, Ukrainian Orthodox Church; Archpriest Octavian Moshin, editor-in-chief of Altar Very magazine, Orthodox Church of Moldova. There were also representatives of Local Orthodox Churches and foreign journalists. In their remarks, experts dealt with the most problematic aspects of inter-Orthodox relations as developed in the last years. 

Before delivering his remarks, Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk read out a message of greeting from Metropolitan Vladimir of Kishinev and All Moldova. Father Igor indicated the major mass media that covered the official positions both of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Patriarchate of Constantinople and pointed to the most debatable issues raised in the information space with regard to Constantinople-caused legalization of representatives of schismatic communities. 

Protodeacon Alexander Karpenko noted that the Orthodox mass media in Ukraine remain the only resources that give information about facts of captures and lawless re-registration of churches and violations of rights of the clergy and faithful. 

The head of the press service of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, V. Anisimov, described the holding of the so-called “uniting council” in Ukraine as “a crime without punishment”. “Along with explaining the historical context and anti-canonical actions of Constantinople, it is extremely important today to press the state and society for a legal and lawful solution of the problem. It is extremely important that justice should be restored through state mechanisms, while the press should help propagate the reliable information”, he stressed. 

Archpriest Nikola Pejovic, Serbian Orthodox Church, presented a short film “Until the Victory of Christ” devoted to the most important episodes of the vigil held by Orthodox Serbs in Montenegro for Orthodox shrines and traditional values. “I am confident that God’s truth will prevail in Ukraine just as it has prevailed in Montenegro, but much effort is to be exerted to achieve it”, he said. 

Ms Yanina Alekseyeva, a journalist and the leader of the Orthodox Education Society in Bulgaria, spoke about the history of relationships between the Bulgarian Church and the Patriarchate of Constantinople and presented new academic publications on the Ukrainian issue, which are yet to be translated into Russian.  

Ms. P. Docou, a journalist from Greece, made this comment: “I would like to point out that in my country the Greek mass media share the attitude adopted by Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. Most of them are reluctant to look properly into what is happening in Ukraine. On the other hand, the European mass media are unaware of the Ukrainian issue at all. Most of them are rather hostile to us. Let me share my own opinion, because I live exactly at a place that is in the jurisdiction of Patriarch Bartholomew: he will not change his decision. He does not believe in dialogue; everyone should understand that. We should be ready for his creating many more problems. He does not accept the fact that he makes mistakes. And the Russian Church should, above all, make an influence on the public opinion on this issue, since the created schism has also created problems between Russia and Greece on many issues”. 

Concluding the discussion, Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk underlined the unanimous opinion of those present as to the situation developed in inter-Orthodox relations. “Today we have had an opportunity to see that our point of view is also shared in other Orthodox countries. And this means that our efforts aimed to bring God’s truth to as many people as possible are bringing their fruits”, the representative of the DECR concluded. 

Synodal Department for the Church’s Relations with Society and Mass Media/
DECR Communication Service

Share:
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with representatives of Macedonian Orthodox Church in Holy Trinity and St. Sergius Lavra

08.10.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with Serbian First Lady

08.10.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with Honorary Chair of Japan’s Sasakawa Peace Foundation

21.09.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill takes part in the closing ceremony of VIII Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions

18.09.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with religious leaders on the sidelines of the Congress in Astana

18.09.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem

17.09.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with Russia’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan Alexey Borodavkin

17.09.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill speaks at the opening of the VIII Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions

17.09.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill sends greetings to Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on his 75th birthday

17.09.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev

17.09.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with the Ambassador of Turkey to Russia

02.09.2025

Visit of Deans of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa to Russia concludes

01.09.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with delegation of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa

27.08.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates All-Night Vigil in Cathedral of Christ the Saviour on the eve of Dormition

27.08.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill congratulates MGIMO rector Anatoly Torkunov on his 75th birthday

26.08.2025

DECR chairman concludes his visit to Northern Iraq

02.10.2025

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk meets with Hierarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church

01.10.2025

DECR Chairman meets in Erbil with Director for the Preservation of Assyrian Cultural Heritage

01.10.2025

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk meets Prime Minister of Iraqi Kurdistan

30.09.2025

Metropolitan Anthony meets with Russia’s Consul General in Erbil

29.09.2025

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk meets with the Primate of the Assyrian Church of the East

29.09.2025

DECR chairman meets with Minister of Endowment and Religious Affairs of Kurdistan Region of Iraq

29.09.2025

Metropolitan Anthony meets with the Head of the Council of Ulema of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

29.09.2025

DECR Chairman meets with representatives of Christian communities of Iraq

28.09.2025

Metropolitan Anthony meets with the Head of the Department of Foreign Relations of the Kurdistan Regional Government

28.09.2025

Metropolitan Anthony takes part in the Assyrian Church of the East Conference dedicated to the First Ecumenical Council

28.09.2025

DECR Chairman meets with the Primate and Members of the Synod of the Assyrian Church of the East

28.09.2025

Visit of the DECR Chairman to Northern Iraq begins

28.09.2025

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolasmk leads patronal celebrations at the Church of the Renewal of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Danilovskaya Sloboda

26.09.2025

DECR chairman meets with Israel’s ambassador to Russia

25.09.2025

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

Feedback

Fields marked by * are mandatory required

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