ROC DECR: Hundreds of clergymen of Alexandrian Church want to be in the ROC

Patriarch Theodore with clergy and believers of the Alexandrian Church. Photo: eadaily.com

On November 6, 2020, the Deputy Chairman of the ROC DECR, Archbishop Leonid of Vladikavkaz and Alan of the Russian Orthodox Church, announced that hundreds of priests of the Alexandrian Church want to join the ROC. The bishop spoke about this during the Strategy with Anna Shafran program.

The hierarch said that the Primate of the Alexandrian Church, Patriarch Theodore, convinced the representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church that he did not recognize the OCU, “however, contrary to promises and agreements, exactly a month later he did as he saw fit.”

Vladyka stressed that the Holy Synod of the Alexandrian Church did not give its Primate the right to recognize the OCU. In addition, Patriarch Theodore himself has not served with any of the representatives of the Ukrainian schism "despite his recognition".

Archbishop Leonid said that the situation within the Alexandrian Church regarding the recognition of the head of the OCU is “not good”, which the ROC informs Patriarch Theodore about.

According to the bishop, the Russian Church receives more than one hundred appeals from the clergy of the Church of Alexandria about the desire to pass under the omophorion of the Patriarch of Moscow.

He stressed that the DECR is looking into “this issue” and even to some extent restraining the clergy of this Church in their enthusiasm to move to the ROC.

According to him, the Russian Orthodox Church does not adhere to the policy of expansion but honors the canons, adheres to the principle of decency and supports honest and decent relations between the Churches.

“Even when we were betrayed, we still adhere to the rules of relations that were established between the Churches. We do not break this word ... And we expect the same from other Churches. We want our partners to bear the same responsibility and pursue the same kind attitude. Instead of pompous words and strong statements, you should keep their promises, because millions, millions of people are behind you,” said Vladyka.

When asked by Anna Shafran why they are doing this, Archbishop Leonid replied that, in particular, the Greek Foreign Ministry, which is "the legs of the US State Department," was pressing on the Patriarch of Alexandria.

Vladyka said that the Russian Orthodox Church financially helped the missionary activities of the Alexandrian Patriarchate "but never boasted about it, we do not hype it, it’s not well-mannered."

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the priests of the Alexandrian Church are asking to reconsider the recognition of the OCU.

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