Russian Orthodox Church exerts pressure on Patriarchate of Alexandria through recognition of the OCU

Metropolitan Oleksandr (Drabynko) of Pereyaslav and Vishneve of the OCU said it on Facebook.

He is referring to the statement of the Deputy Chair of the Synodal Department for External Church Relations (DECR) of the Russian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Leonid (Horbachev), the meaning of which boils down to primitive blackmail. His Eminence Leonid refers to “hundreds” of appeals from representatives of the clergy, who are allegedly sharply dissatisfied with the fact that Patriarch Theodore II (Khoreftakis) recognized the autocephalous status of the Church of Ukraine.

“The information I have received from the DECR sources highlights the events that preceded such a loud statement. In particular, it became known that in the fall of this year, a certain event took place in Russia: three priests from Kenya were invited to Moscow. From September 20 to October 12, 2020, "leaders of groups of Kenyan clergymen" Archimandrite Anastasius (Kihali Elekiah Andago), priest Agapiy (Omukuba Habbil Lipesa) and priest Antipa (Odhiambo Erick Chrispin) made a secret visit to the Russian Federation at the invitation of the Russian Orthodox Church side, with the blessing of Patriarch Kirill,” Metropolitan Drabynko said.

In the follow-up of the meetings, the DECR of the Russian Orthodox Church hastened to announce that there is strong opposition to Patriarch Theodore in the Church of Alexandria among the local black clergy. The priests of Kenya and Tanzania allegedly almost left the Patriarchate of Alexandria and are seeking to join the Russian Orthodox Church, writing a request about this, he said.

Thus, the Russian Orthodox Church is trying to influence the position of Patriarch Theodore through Russian-Egyptian state relations, Drabynko added.