Russian Orthodox Church

Official website of the Moscow Patriarchate

Patriarchate

Councils of Russian Orthodox Church’s dioceses in Germany issue joint statement concerning the situation caused by anti-canonical actions of Patriarchate of Constantinople in Ukraine

Councils of Russian Orthodox Church’s dioceses in Germany issue joint statement concerning the situation caused by anti-canonical actions of Patriarchate of Constantinople in Ukraine
Version for print
30 November 2018 year 20:54

On the 29th  of November 2018, the first joint session of the Diocesan Councils of the diocese of Berlin and Germany of the Moscow Patriarchate and the diocese of Germany of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia took place at the Convent of the Venerable Martyr Elizabeth the Grand Duchess in Buchendorf, in the suburb of Munich.

 Earlier that day, the Diocesan Council of the diocese of Berlin and Germany held a meeting at the Southern Diocesan Residence in Munich. Archbishop Tikhon of Podolsk, administrator of the diocese, greeted the participants in the meeting and noted that the Orthodox Church is going through difficult times, and suggested discussing the decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church concerning the break-off of the Eucharistic communion with the Patriarchate of Constantinople due to its anti-canonical actions in Ukraine. The members of the Council also considered petitions of local clergymen for the opening of new communities and parishes in the territory of Germany and discussed the progress in making a grave cross for the burial place of Archbishop Theophan (Galinski) of the blessed memory. Mr. Andrei Mololkin, reader of the Church of the Great Martyr Barbara in the city of Krefeld, presented a report that was based on the document of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Chancery, entitled ‘Road Map of Immediate Measures Aimed at Creating and Promoting Favourable Conditions for the Religious Education of Children at Parish Communities of the Russian Orthodox Church,’ and that took into account the specificity of the diocese of Berlin and Germany.

The participants in the joint session of the Diocesan Councils of the diocese of Berlin and Germany of the Moscow Patriarchate and the diocese of Germany of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia discussed a plan of joint actions for 2019, as well as the current state and prospects of youth work in Germany.

The members of the Diocesan Councils also discussed the situation caused by the anti-canonical actions of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and their repercussions for the inter-Orthodox cooperation in Germany. The following joint statement was adopted at the result of the meeting:

“The Diocesan Councils of the diocese of Berlin and Germany of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate and of the diocese of Germany of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, at the results of the joint session held on the 29th of November 2018, resolved to support the decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church of the 15th of October (Minutes No. 71) on the recognition of impossibility to continue the Eucharistic communion with the Patriarchate of Constantinople in view of the ongoing anti-canonical actions of the latter.

“The current situation grieves the hearts of all faithful children of the Russian Orthodox Church, including those living in Germany. During the past decades the conciliar unity of Orthodoxy found its visible expression abroad in the collaborative work of hierarchs of the Local Churches united in bishops’ conferences. The actions of the Patriarchate of Constantinople do not only make it difficult to continue the fruitful cooperation, but also contravene the basics of the Orthodox conciliarity, in particular, the principle of consensus and equality in the Orthodox Diaspora.

“The archpastors and clergy of both dioceses express their full support to His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine, the hierarchs, clergy and all the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and lift up prayers that they may be strengthened in courageously defending the Truth and the unity of the Church in Ukraine. We deem it necessary to emphasize that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is already autonomous and independent in all key spheres of its activities. The Patriarchate of Constantinople’s demonstrative neglect of this indisputable fact leads to the tragic consequences for all the Ukrainian people.

“Together with the plenitude of the Russian Orthodox Church we pin our hopes on God’s mercy and believe that despite the intrigues of the archfiend the unity of the Church of Christ will remain unshaken. We consider it expedient and necessary to support the proposal of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, as well as of other heads and hierarchs of the Local Churches to convene a Pan-Orthodox Synaxis with the view of working out decisions aimed at overcoming the crisis in the universal Orthodoxy.”

Website of the diocese of Berlin and Germany/DECR Communication Service/Patriarchia.ru

Version: Russian

Materials on the theme

Metropolitan Hilarion of Budapest and Hungary: Vatican concedes to liberals on the issue of same-sex couples [Interview]

Патриарх Варфоломей повел себя крайне непоследовательно [Article]

Metropolitan Jonathan of Tulchyn and Bratslav characterized the words of Patriarch Bartholomew, who condemned the confessional feat of the Ukrainian hierarchs, as blasphemous

Bishop Sergije of Bihać and Petrovac: The Kiev Lavra of the Caves today is the Golgotha of the Orthodox world

В Брянке Северодонецкой епархии раздали гуманитарную помощь. Информационная сводка о помощи беженцам (за 23-25 марта 2024 года) [Article]

Служба «Милосердие-на-Дону» доставила помощь детям с инвалидностью в Харцызске. Информационная сводка о помощи беженцам (от 22 марта 2024 года) [Article]

За месяц в Харьковской области представители Церкви раздали 400 гуманитарных наборов. Информационная сводка о помощи беженцам (от 21 марта 2024 года) [Article]

60 пациентов завершили протезирование в церковной больнице святителя Алексия. Информационная сводка о помощи беженцам (от 20 марта 2024 года) [Article]

The Primate of the Orthodox Church in America visits the Synodal Residence of the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad in New York

Патриаршее поздравление епископу Сонорскому Иакову с 65-летием со дня рождения [Patriarch : Greetings and addresses]

The celebration of the 30th anniversary of the discovery of the incorruptible relics of St John, Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco the Wonderworker is marked by the ROCOR First Hierarch's visit

Патриаршее поздравление архиепископу Чикагскому Петру с 20-летием архиерейской хиротонии [Patriarch : Greetings and addresses]

Archbishop Theodosios of Sebastia: The Orthodox Church is subjected to unprecedented persecution and violence in Ukraine

Ukrainian authorities try to withhold information from world community regarding facts of violation of believers’ rights

Hundreds of Vinnytsia citizens gather for prayer outside UOC church previously closed by OCU activists

Metropolitan Theodosy of Cherkassy and Kanev: Тhe truth on the situation of the believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is entering Western society

Lectures on Orthodox ecclesiology held in Belarusian Exarchate’s dioceses

Patriarch Kirill gives his blessing to offering up fervent prayers for archpastors and clerics of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church striving to preserve church unity

Circular letter of the Moscow Patriarchate Chancellor on prayers for hierarchs and clerics of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church held prisoners [Documents]

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill sends messages in connection to bill No.8371 considered by Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine

Archbishop Theodosios of Sebastia: The Orthodox Church is subjected to unprecedented persecution and violence in Ukraine

Bishop Konstantin of Zaraisk confirmed in office as Patriarchal Exarch of Africa

Russian Church Synod expresses strong disagreement with decision to establish “Romanian Orthodox Church in Ukraine”

Archbishop Theodosius of Sebastia: the oppression to which the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is subjected is unjust and cannot be justified or accepted in any form