Photo: AFP 2018 / Ozan Kose
The Patriarchate of Constantinople officially confirmed the dissolution of the Exarchate of Russian parishes in Europe, RIA Novosti reported.
The Patriarchate of Constantinople during the Synod of the Constantinople Church, which takes place in Istanbul from 27 to 29 November, decided to dissolve the Western European Exarchate of Russian parishes. The decision is annulled by the Patriarchal Tomos of 1999. In turn, the Exarchate said it had not yet received official notification about this, stressing that the matter to Patriarchy was not addressed, and did not participate in any prior consultations.
According to the statement of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, the decision to dissolve the Western European Exarchate of Russian parishes “responsible pastoral and spiritual needs of our time”, and the purpose of this solution is “strengthening the ties of traditional Russian parishes with the Church of the Patriarchate of Constantinople”.
“The Patriarchate of Constantinople decided to join the (Russian) parishes to the various metropolises of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the countries where they are”, — said in a statement. The document clarifies that the Constantinople Patriarchate “will continue to guarantee respect for the liturgical and spiritual traditions” of the Russian parishes.