The Synod of bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad expresses its deep outrage “a flagrant violation of the sacred canons of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople”, informs a portal “Orthodox life”. This is stated in the statement published on the official website of the ROCOR in connection with the appointment of the exarchs KPC in Kiev.
The invasion of Constantinople on the canonical territory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the ROCOR called a “very rough and unprecedented.”
All Orthodox Synod urged “to exacerbate the saints, and fervent prayers for peace in Ukraine, and also for the unconditional opposition to the evil that surrounds our persecuted brothers and sisters, children of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.”
Below is the text of the statement is published in full.
Statement Of The Synod Of Bishops Of The Russian Church Abroad
in connection with the appointment in Kiev exarchs of the Patriarchate of Constantinople
Prayer in God with the suffering of the brotherly Ukrainian Orthodox Church, headed by the well respected and revered in the Orthodox world, his Beatitude Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine Onufriy, the Primate recognized as the only canonical Church in Ukraine, we, the members of the Synod of bishops of the Russian Church Abroad, performing their Ministry in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and other Western countries, okormljat numerous emigrants from the countries of Historical Rus ‘ and their descendants expressed its profound indignation at the flagrant violation of the sacred canons of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople.
The decision of the Supreme authority of the latter about the direction of their “exarchs” in the canonical territory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church without the consent of the issue thereof with the Holy Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill and his Beatitude Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine Onuphrius is extremely tough and unprecedented invasion of one Church to a foreign canonical territory having its own national Church, which alone is responsible for the Orthodox flock in this country.
Such a step by his Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew and his fellow-bishops threatens unity of Holy Orthodoxy. In this regard, we call on the clergy and flock of the Russian Orthodox and other Orthodox Churches to the aggravation of the saints, and fervent prayers for peace in Ukraine, and also for the unconditional opposition to the evil that surrounds our persecuted brothers and sisters, children of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
May the Great and Supreme head of the Church and the chief shepherd Jesus Christ will strengthen his Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry and the episcopate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, to which all should be separated to resort to repentance and submitting a petition of canonical reception into the Orthodox Church, and grant Him bliss with clergy and flock of the long-suffering, many of Its mercies, blessings and consolation in sorrow that befell the faithful in the Ukrainian land. Amen.
New York, September 9, 2018