Head of the Cypriot Church: We try to have friendly relations with Russia

Archbishop George of Cyprus said that the Cypriot Church tries to have friendly relations with Russia, reports orthodoxianewsagency.gr.

Archbishop George, answering a question about how the unity of world Orthodoxy is possible without the Russian Orthodox Church, said that the Phanar’s granting the Tomos to the OCU, which led to the break of communion between the Churches, "is enshrined in the acts of the last millennium".

The Church of Cyprus has always had a special relationship with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, he said.

But, he continued, "We try to have friendly relations with Russia not only as a state but also as a Church."

According to Archbishop George of Cyprus, the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church made a mistake by refusing to participate in the 2016 Council of Crete.