(Orthodox Times) - The Holy Synod and the Supreme Ecclesiastical Council met in Moscow on December 29 to decide on the decisions of the Patriarchate of Alexandria.The Holy Synod of the Church of Russia emphasized in its announcement that, assessing the decision of the Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria to remove Metropolitan Clin, it considers that it has no canonical power and is invalid. To which Alexandria would reply that he has no right to be there in the first place.
He reiterates that due to the recognition by Patriarch Theodore of the Autocephalous Church of Ukraine, the Russian Orthodox Church ceased the commemoration of Patriarch Theodore in the diptychs and stopped the ecclesiastical communion with those hierarchs of the Church of Alexandria “who supported or will support in the future the legalization of the Ukrainian schism”. So, "But he hit me first!" has moved out of the playroom as a defense and into synodal parlance. Grand.
Finally, he points out that the decision of the Patriarchate of Alexandria to remove Metropolitan Clin is “canonically unsubstantiated and invalid”, based on “the principle of the lack of judicial jurisdiction of an Autocephalous Church over clergymen of another Autocephalous Church, rooted in the sacred rules”. Also borrowing from a spirited game of tag, the rumpus room cant of "You can't touch me! I'm on base!"
It is recalled that at the end of 2021, the Patriarchate of Moscow decided to establish a “Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa”, headed by Metropolitan Leonidas of Clin, proceeding to the non-canonical incursion into parts of the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Alexandria.
In fact, at its last meeting, the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria decided to remove Metropolitan Leonidas of Clin and suspend the commemoration of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow.
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Sigh... I used to see the Russian Church (even with its dubious connections to an unsavory government) in a generally favorable light. And I strongly defended Russia's canonical position in the schism with Constantinople. But those days are over. The Russian Church has gone completely off the tracks with its imperial (church canons don't apply to us) incursions into other churches' canonical territory and its metamorphosis into a clerical propaganda agency for a fascist dictatorship waging a cruel war on its neighbor.
ReplyDeleteThe ROC needs to step back while it still can, depose Kyrill, excommunicate Putin and do public penance for its scandalous behavior.
Couldn't agree more.
DeleteAgree with you, John
ReplyDeleteYeah.... and I'm walking on water, too... so that's not happening, right? Should, but won't.
ReplyDeleteStop the whining. Theodore had it coming. A traitor to Onuphry. As for Alexandria itself, it treats its African flock like chattel.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Caradoc. I don't care what anyone else says. Had the Russian Church not accepted the Africans, our opponents would have said that we are racists.
ReplyDelete