Phanar head: As a Jesus' disciple I must forgive ferocious Russian brothers

Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. Photo: tanea.gr

On October 24, 2021, in an interview with the Cypriot newspaper Politis, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople said that as a disciple of Jesus Christ, he must forgive his brothers from the Russian Orthodox Church, who fiercely responded to his decision to recognize the OCU.

According to Patriarch Bartholomew, Phanar did not gain anything from the Ukrainian “autocephaly” “at a secular level”, the only benefit being “insults, slander and humiliation”.

“On the contrary, those who fought against this decision are committed to the 'dream', according to which political plans around the world serve as a chariot for the Church, and the fact that I once again defended the Truth influenced the geopolitical and other plans of our brothers. Therefore, they responded with such ferocity,” said the head of Phanar.

However, according to the patriarch, he is “worried” not so much by “slander” against him personally, “as by attempts to infringe on the rights of Constantinople”. “In my opinion, I must forgive them as a disciple of the Lord Jesus. But I will never give up and will hold the torches of Truth and Love of our ecumenical patriarchate until the last breath,” said Patriarch Bartholomew.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that according to the head of Phanar, his predecessors made Russians Christians and brought them civilization.

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