+Alexis II Denounces turkish provocations Against ep

[Kollyvas]

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Patriarch Alexy denounced Turkish extremists’ insinuations against Patriarch of Constantinople
Moscow, January 10, Interfax - Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia expressed his ‘fraternal sympathy’ with Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople in connection with aggressive insinuations of the Turkish extremists groups, such as the ultra-Right ‘Grey Wolves’ that seeks the removal of the Patriarchate of Constantinople from the country.

Patriarch Bartholomew shown here at Epiphany services, Tarpon Springs, Fla. USA.
Moscow, January 10, Interfax - Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia expressed his ‘fraternal sympathy’ with Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople in connection with aggressive insinuations of the Turkish extremists groups, such as the ultra-Right ‘Grey Wolves’ that seeks the removal of the Patriarchate of Constantinople from the country.

In his interview to Greek newspaper Vima Alexy II said that ‘the statements and actions of these organizations pursue the one and only aim - to do as much as possible damage to the Orthodox Church.’

The Patriarch the statements of Turkish nationalists that the Moscow Patriarchate allegedly does not recognize the Patriarch of Constantinople as ‘ecumenical.’ According to Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, the Russian Orthodox church ‘recognizes this historical title’, uses it in official correspondence and mentions the patriarch’s name at divine services.

However, ‘this title by no means implies a world jurisdiction’, as it conforms with ‘a catholic, rather than with an orthodox doctrine’ on the order of the church, the Primate of the Moscow Patriarchate said.

He explained that the title was a heritage of the ‘Byzantine epoch surviving in the memory of the church, though a political reality of the ‘New Rome’ has long become a thing of the past.’

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Alexy II warns Patriarch of Constantinople against interference into Ukrainian church affairs
Moscow, January 10, Interfax - Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia called upon the head of the Church of Constantinople Bartholomew I not to interfere into church affairs in Ukraine.

Moscow, January 10, Interfax - Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia called upon the head of the Church of Constantinople Bartholomew I not to interfere into church affairs in Ukraine.

The repetition of ‘Estonian mistakes of the past’ in Ukraine ‘is fraught with catastrophic consequences not only for Ukraine, but for the entire Orthodox world’, the patriarch said in his interview to the Greek newspaper Vima.

Answering the question of what he would say to Bartholomew I whom Ukrainian politicians ask to promote autonomous or autocephalous status (independence - IF) of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, the Primate called upon his brother to ‘be particularly responsible and discrete in all that concerns Ukraine.’

He reminded of ‘a sad Estonian experience’, as ‘hasty and ill-considered steps were taken to satisfy ambitions of certain politicians and also the wish of a small group of believers’, thus frustrating church peace in the country for a long time: a part of the Estonian Orthodox Church parishes was taken under jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in 1996 that has brought about a church conflict as yet unsettled.

Alexy II noted that preparations for ‘the Holy and great council of the Orthodox church’ were ‘suspended’ because of the Estonian church problem. It is a deplorable fact as Orthodox theologians spent much time and effort to arrange the event.

‘The Ukrainian Orthodox church has a right to choose its historical way independently’, the patriarch underscored and added that ‘politicians cannot interfere in its internal life’.

‘The majority of its faithful do not want to break off spiritual bonds with the Russian Orthodox church’, and their opinion should be taken into account, Alexy II said.