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On 8 December 2018, the annual assembly of clergy of the Moscow Patriarchate’s parishes in Italy took place in Rome. The meeting was chaired by Bishop John of Bogorodsk.

In his address the archpastor focused on such issues as canonical status of the clergy serving in Italy and norms and rules of the administrative and hierarchical order.

The participants in the meeting unanimously voted to adopt the text of the message addressed to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, in which they expressed filial respect and full support for the decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church to break off the Eucharistic communion with the Patriarchate of Constantinople in view of the latter’s anti-canonical actions in Ukraine.

“Regrettably, the recent decisions and actions of the Patriarchate of Constantinople are posing a challenge to the very foundation of the Orthodox ecclesiology, replacing the traditional principle of conciliarity with an idea, alien to the East, of primacy and special role of one of the Primates of the Local Churches. What makes it sadder is that such disdain for the Orthodox tradition and violation of the holy canons are unfolding in the plain view of other Christian confessions and other religions,” the message reads, in particular.

Expressed in the letter was also cordial support to His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine, archpastors, pastors and laypeople of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – the only canonical Church preaching the Gospel of peace and truth in the longsuffering Ukrainian land. “In every parish of the Russian Orthodox Church in Italy prayers are being lifted up that the merciful Lord grant the long-awaited truce and accord to the Ukrainian people and strengthen and fill with confidence, similar to that of the first Christians, the hearts of those who are carrying a heavy, but blessed cross of defending the Truth in the face of falsehood,” the message says, “The pressure and intimidation to which representatives of some dioceses of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church have been recently subjected are absolutely inadmissible. Such injustice runs counter to the provisions of the European law that protects freedom of conscience and religion. Together with all the Orthodox Christians of the Holy Rus’ we grieve deeply over the tribulations within the family of the Orthodox Churches and over the alarming developments in Ukriane. At the same time we pin our hopes on the mercy of the Heavenly Father. May He strengthen Your Holiness in your steadfast service to the Truth and may He fill our hearts with great zeal for serving the Russian Orthodox Church.”

The participants in the meeting discussed a wide range of other issues as well, website of the Church of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine in Rome reports.

DECR Communication Service