Head of ROC Archdiocese: Patriarch Kirill made a big mistake

Metropolitan John (Renneteau) of Dubna, the Primate of the Archdiocese of Russian Orthodox Churches in Western Europe, has criticized Patriarch Kirill’s position, which he called wrong, on the war in Ukraine. He said this in an interview with Radio Liberty.

"I think Patriarch Kirill made a big strategic, political and ecclesiastical mistake because he ended up on the margins of the Christian Church. When our Archdiocese united with the Russian Orthodox Church three and a half years ago, we were able to have a dialogue. And now we see that the behaviour of the Patriarchal See is politicised. The Churches find themselves in a very difficult situation because to get close to Patriarch Kirill now means risking," said the Metropolitan of Dubna.

He recalled that he had published an open letter to Patriarch Kirill in which he begged Patriarch Kirill to intercede with the Russian authorities to stop the horrible and senseless war against Ukraine as soon as possible.

Metropolitan John said that the relations of the Archdiocese with the Russian Orthodox Church are canonical, the bishop serving in connection with the Synod. He believes that such is precisely a connection with the Synod and not with a specific person.

"There is hope that not all members of the Holy Synod share the Patriarch's one-sided view of Russia's war against Ukraine; even if they don't say so openly, maybe they think so. So, we stay with the Synod and do not engage in politics in our diocese – it is unacceptable to use the ambo for political purposes," he said.

As reported, in October 2020, Metropolitan John addressed the head of the Russian Orthodox Church and called on him to "do everything possible to put an end to this terrible war which is dividing the world and sowing death and destruction".