"Patriarch Kirill found himself in a stalemate," protodeacon Andrey Kuraev

Patriarch Theophilus III of Jerusalem called on all the Primates of the official local Orthodox Churches to gather in Jordan to discuss the issue of "preserving the unity of the Church" in the conditions of progressive rupture of communion with them by the ROC MP. In an interview with the NSN, on November 21,Archdeacon Andrey Kuraev, said that the Russian Orthodox Church - after it was headed by Kirill (Gundyaev) is considered to be the main threat to pan-Orthodox unity in these Churches, press Credo reports.

Patriarch Theophilus III of Jerusalem called on all the Primates of the official local Orthodox Churches to gather in Jordan to discuss the issue of "preserving the unity of the Church" in the conditions of progressive rupture of communion with them by the ROC MP. In an interview with the NSN, on November 21,Archdeacon Andrey Kuraev, said that the Russian Orthodox Church - after it was headed by Kirill (Gundyaev) is considered to be the main threat to pan-Orthodox unity in these Churches, press Credo reports.

“For everyone who does not live in Moscow, it is quite obvious that Moscow is satisfied with the split... It is very important to understand that when the Patriarch [Theophilus] says that the Church should be united, one should ask: who does he call the violator of unity? Most likely, we are talking about Moscow,” he said.

At the same time, according to Kuraev, the churches of the Patriarchates of Constantinople and Alexandria, as before, are open to Russian pilgrims, and their primates commemorate the Patriarch of Moscow.

"Patriarch Kirill is in a stalemate. At first, our propaganda demanded the convening of a Pan-Orthodox Council on the Ukrainian question. Then they realized that such a Council could be held only in the presence of the Patriarch of Constantinople, he should lead it. But in this case, this Council will rather turn into a trial over the Moscow Patriarch,” the archdeacon explained.

In his opinion, “no one will come to the invitation of Theophilus III before Amman", and if there is any conference, “it will not have the status of a General Church Council”, since without the participation of the Ecumenical Patriarch it is only “some meeting of people with interests”.

“It is absolutely its own game [Theophilus III], on its own terms. A typical simulation of rough activity, a workout out of the bribe received. I think he does not believe in the reality of his idea, if he does not have an agreement with Bartholomew. Bartholomew is ready to meet, hold Pan-Orthodox Councils outside his territory, but then the Moscow Patriarch will not go,” Kuraev said.

Among the possible reasons for which the Theophilus III meeting in Amman would be advantageous, the protodeacon called the possibility of “reducing the presence of the Russian Church in Palestine, changing the format of the Russian church mission in Jerusalem”. It is reported by Religiyna Pravda (Religious Truth)