Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
The Orthodox Church believes that the consequences of the decisions of Constantinople can be more painful than the separation of Churches in the XI century.
The actions of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in the issue of Ukrainian autocephaly can lead to even greater split than in 1054. This was reported by Interfax, the Secretary for inter-Orthodox relations of the DECR of the Russian Orthodox Church, Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk.
“It is important to understand that the current split will involve a much larger number of people than it was then, in the eleventh century, considering how significantly increased since the population – said the priest. – Therefore, by its scale and drama of the new division will be significantly sharper”.
The representative of the Russian Orthodox Church noted that after Eucharistic communion between the churches of this gap has a tendency to expand, and the events of history confirm this, as, for example, the old believer schism of the XVII century.
“Such separation is relatively easy to occur, but it is very hard to overcome, and in this case we can talk about a deep schism, because in Ukraine, millions of believers, thousands of churches, parishes,” – said Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk.
According to him, the Russian Orthodox Church “would do anything to protect his parishioners”, despite the fact that “the rampant violence and chaos really real.”
Earlier, Metropolitan Hilarion said that the Russian Orthodox Church will cease communication with Constantinople in case of the granting of the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
September 7, the Patriarchate of Constantinople “in preparation for the granting of autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine” said that it has appointed its Exarch in Kyiv Archbishop Pamphylian Daniel from the USA and Bishop Hilarion of Edmonton Canada.