MINSK, 15 October (BelTA) – The holy synod of the Russian Orthodox Church has decided in favor of fully severing communion relations with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, BelTA learned from Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Head of the External Church Relations Department of the Moscow Patriarchate on 15 October.
The Russian Orthodox Church hopes that the patriarch of Constantinople will change his attitude to the existing church reality, noted the metropolitan.
Apart from that, the holy synod of the Russian Orthodox Church hopes that there will be no clashes in Ukraine over this issue. “We've heard assurances from Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko that all the believers will be able to frequent the church they belong to and will face no obstacles on this way. We hope that these promises will be fulfilled,” said Metropolitan Hilarion.
The head of the External Church Relations Department of the Moscow Patriarchate urged parishioners to stay calm. “In practical sense it means we will not be able to perform church services together with the patriarch of Constantinople. Our archbishops and priests will not be able to participate in liturgies together with priests belonging to the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Lay people will not be able to receive the sacraments in his temples either,” he explained.
