Harsh language from the Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria to the Patriarchate of Russia for creating an Exarchy.
"We receive an abominable blow from the homodox Russians" reads the official statement of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, which today condemned in Synod the "irregular and anti-clerical invasion of the Patriarchate of Russia". The Alexandrian Church complains that Moscow's moves are leading to the creation of "novel ecclesiastical formations" in Africa.
The official announcement was read from the headquarters of the Patriarchate of Alexandria by the Patriarchal Commissioner General, Metropolitan Gabriel of Leontopolis, in the presence of Metropolitan Theophylact of Tripoli and Metropolitan Jerome of Kampala (Uganda).
In this statement, the Second Patriarchate of Alexandria refers to the "unethical invasion" of the Patriarchate of Russia that it has implemented "unannounced", through which Moscow is attempting to "buy off native clergy of the Patriarchate of Alexandria".
"The Synod of the Hierarchy of the Alexandrian Throne, with emphatic surprise, protests to the Patriarch of Russia and the Synod around him. Surprisingly, because for us who follow our Holy Patriarchs, the boundaries of each sister local Church are clear, geographical and mapped out by Ecumenical Councils and respected. And we declare that in doing so we have never been involved in the boundaries of any local sister Church, much less those of the Russian Church. This is not only because the message of evangelical love is thus distorted, but also because, having struggled for centuries and lived together with various confessions and religions in a spirit of mutual respect and understanding, we receive an abominable blow from the homodox Russians", stressed the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria on behalf of the Patriarchate of Alexandria.
In the same statement, the Patriarchate of Alexandria stresses that the moves of the Russian Church to invade the African continent and "the attempt to distort Orthodox ecclesiology" emanate from "impassioned and imbued reasons" from the condemned virus of ethno-racialism condemned by the Synod of 1872. It also says that these decisions of the Patriarchate of Russia refer to "parameters of neo-colonialism" and "claiming global primacy" that are not in accordance with Orthodox tradition.
As emphasized in the statement, the Patriarchate of Alexandria is expected to immediately send letters to the Ecumenical Patriarchate and all the Primates of the local Churches, referring to the "infectious confusion" spreading among the African faithful.
The statement from the Patriarchate of Alexandria concludes by saying that the Church's divine and ecclesiastical rules will be "faithfully and immediately" applied to the offenders.
Source: CNA
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