Russian Orthodox Church responds negatively to lifting of anathema on Filaret

The Russian Orthodox Church believes that the decision of the Patriarchate of Constantinople to lift the anathema on Patriarch Filaret of the Kyiv Patriarchate destroys the foundations of the canonical system.

“The unprecedented anti-canonical act of the Patriarchate of Constantinople is connected with an attempt to destroy the very foundations of the canonical structure of the Orthodox Church. It is difficult to assess otherwise the statement of the Synod of Constantinople about entering into canonical communion with the schismatics and a person excommunicated from the Church,” believes Vladimir Legoida, Chair of the Synodal Department for Church Relations with Media and Society.

According to him, the reference of Constantinople to “an alleged canonical prerogative inherent in it” to consider such appeals is “nothing more than a new theory, which is supported predominantly by Constantinople itself.”

Legoida expressed confidence that the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church will, at its next meeting on October 15, provide the corresponding competent assessment of such actions.”