Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria despatched a letter to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the bishops of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, who’re presently gathered in Istanbul.
The Patriarch once more requires help towards the anti-canonical actions of the Russian Church in Africa, which has launched a “mission” on the continent, consisting of making a schism, taking away temples of the Alexandrian Patriarchate and attracting native clergymen for greater pay. This has additionally been accompanied by political motion with native African governments, a lot of which Russia maintains shut relations with.
The letter-address of the Patriarch of Alexandria is addressed to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the hierarchs of the Ecumenical See, asking for his or her sensible help for the simply battle of the Patriarchate of Alexandria to guard the canonical order and the unity of the Church in Africa. Patriarch Theodore calls on the hierarchs to turn out to be “angels of sunshine” and to tell each particular person of fine will intimately in regards to the injustice dedicated in Africa by the Russian Orthodox Church. He requires stress from the church physique to return the ROC to canonical frameworks and cease its divisive actions.
Patriarch Theodore remembers the historic duty of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the preservation of the Orthodox religion and the unity of the Church and asks for its lively and efficient intervention on this extraordinarily essential matter.
The enchantment of the Patriarch of Alexandria additionally displays his deep religion within the unity of the Orthodox Church and within the empathy between the Patriarchates, anticipating the Ecumenical Patriarchate to play its main position in resolving this disaster.
Patriarch Theodore expresses his indignation on the “deafening silence” of the opposite Orthodox prelates, who didn’t take any motion or specific a place towards this violation of church canons.
This indifference and neutrality – says the patriarch – will be interpreted as tacit help for the Russian Church, thereby encouraging its anti-canonical actions.
