Another attack against the Ecumenical Patriarchate is being launched by Russia. This time it was the turn of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) which accuses Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of interfering in the election of the new Patriarch of Georgia, following the death of Ilia II, accusing him of seeking to create a schism between the Orthodox churches. In a statement it issued, it characteristically states that the spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians “continues to follow an insidious line aimed at splitting world Orthodoxy, guided by the principle of ‘divide and rule’.” The Russian Intelligence Service also claims that the Ecumenical Patriarch intends to promote to the vacant position a representative of the Georgian Orthodox Church on whom he could rely and that in his inner circle he presents two metropolitans as the most suitable candidates, namely Metropolitan Abraham (Garmelia) of Western Europe and Metropolitan Grigoli (Berbitchasvili) of Poti and Khobi, adding that both of Mr. Bartholomew’s “chosen ones” are over 70 years old. In this way, as it claims, “he seeks to place the Orthodox Church of Georgia under his influence” and “exploits” the death of Ilia II.
Read: Russia: “Attack” on Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew – “Seeks schism with the church of Georgia”
In the same statement, it launches harsh characterizations against the Ecumenical Patriarch, accusing him that he is only interested in power “through his actions, Bartholomew once again replaces the ‘primacy of honor’ with ‘primacy of power’ by interfering in the internal affairs of one of the oldest churches, the Georgian Orthodox Church.
Once again, it brings back the claims of the Russian Church that the Ecumenical Patriarch followed divisive tactics in Ukraine, Serbia and the Baltic countries, noting that Mr. Bartholomew has forgotten the second canon of the Second Ecumenical Council which states that “regional bishops shall not extend their authority to Churches beyond their territory…”
Metropolitan Dimitrios of Princes’ Islands denies: “It is within Russia’s tactics to insult the Ecumenical Patriarchate”
Metropolitan Dimitrios of Princes’ Islands spoke to parapolitika.gr about this issue, who denies what the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) states. As he maintains, the statement “is within the framework of Russia’s tactics to insult the Ecumenical Patriarchate as they know that Mr. Bartholomew cannot do such a thing. What they write is false,” he characteristically states. The Most Reverend Metropolitan Dimitrios attributes the attack to the effort being made by the Russian Church “to influence the other ten Orthodox Churches that support the Patriarchate’s decision to recognize the Autocephaly of the Church of Ukraine. As he says “they want to influence their own people and other churches, to continue this stance, the negative one, which divides orthodoxy.”
When asked whether Mr. Bartholomew could choose or designate a specific person for the leadership of the Church of Georgia, the Metropolitan of Princes’ Islands appears categorically negative “No, he does not have such a right. They are autocephalous churches. He cannot express himself. He may have his own opinion. We all do. But that is one thing and another to say it directly. And especially a Patriarch, cannot speak, it is as if he is entering, getting involved in procedures that do not concern him. Those who write the statement follow a tactic that seeks to harm the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The Patriarch is a person who knows the established order. He would not proceed with such moves.”
The issue is also extensively covered in Turkish media with Daily Sabah headlining its article: “Russia claims Orthodox Patriarch based in Constantinople stokes schism.” It also notes that Mr. Bartholomew again provokes Russia’s anger “by appointing his candidate to the vacant position of Georgian patriarch.”
The conflict between the Patriarchates of Constantinople and Moscow began in 2018 when the Russian Orthodox Church severed its ties with the Ecumenical Patriarchate after the Phanar recognized the independence of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Since then, the Patriarchate of Moscow has launched attacks against Mr. Bartholomew at every opportunity with accusations of attempting to influence churches, mainly the Baltic Churches.
