Andriy Kuraiev: Patriarch Kirill followed the path of true schism
On Monday, September 11, at the Divine Liturgy, Patriarch Kirill did not remember any of the leaders of the Local Orthodox Churches, protodeacon Andrey Kuraev wrote in his blog. He shared a video of Divine Liturgy in Norilsk, Russian Federation as confirmation.
Kuraiev assumes that the head of the Russian Orthodox Church has done this on purpose in order not to mention Patriarch Bartholomew. Protodeacon Andriy Kuraiev believes that from the canonical point of view, this means going into a total schism.
“But the Patriarch at the Great Entrance - let out all hierarchs (1: 18) as well as during the deacon’s exclamations (1:37). It seems he did it on purpose in order not to mention Bartholomew. From the canonical standpoint it is a departure to a complete schism,” wrote the protodeacon.
Earlier, the Ecumenical Patriarch appointed exarchs to Ukraine. The Moscow Patriarchate stated that "the relevant actions of the Moscow Patriarchate will be taken in the near future,” to counteract.
Later, Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev), chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church, noted that in the event of the autocephaly being provided to the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, the Moscow Patriarchate will not recognize this autocephaly and will discontinue communication with Constantinople.
