ROC declares its intention to save Constantinople from irreparable decision
In the dispute with Phanar, the ROC is guided by the need to preserve the unity of Orthodoxy, since it is about the "fates of millions of people", said Vladimir Legoyda.
The Russian Orthodox Church seeks to preserve peace and save Constantinople from irreparable steps, said Vladimir Legoyda, head of the Synodal Department for Church, Society and Media Relations, on the air of the "Russia-1" TV channel.
"The Russian Church is trying to the end to preserve peace save our brothers from some irreparable steps," Legoyda said.
He recalled that the statement of the Synod of the ROC on September 8 indicates that if Constantinople takes the declared steps on the issue of Ukrainian autocephaly, then the response of the Moscow Patriarchate to the Phanar’s actions will promptly ensue.
"The response will be extremely tough," the representative of the Russian Orthodox Church said, adding that "in this case, of course, the unity of Orthodoxy is more important for us," and it's "not just some beautiful words, this is about the fates of millions of people – not just in the earthly measurement, but also in the eternal."
As reported earlier, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople appointed Archbishop Daniel of Pamphilon (the U.S) and Bishop Hilarion of Edmonton (Canada) as its exarchs in Kiev "within the framework of the preparations for the granting of autocephaly to the Orthodox Church in Ukraine". In this regard, the Synod of theRussian Orthodox Church expressed resolute protest against the decision of the Constantinople Patriarchate.
