Patriarch of Alexandria accuses ROC of disregarding principles of church law

Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria continues to criticize the Russian Orthodox Church over the activities of the Moscow Patriarchate on the African continent. The first hierarch, who had previously recognized the OCU contrary to the canons, said that the Russian Church, “through the invasion of Africa,” had neglected the principles of church law. His words are reported by Orthodox Times.

«We do not hesitate to strongly condemn the illegal interference of the Russian Church, which, unfortunately, has neglected all the principles of church law and order. Through secular methods and financial influence, it seeks to undermine what our Fathers and Ecumenical Councils have protected for centuries. We will continue to reaffirm the call to “Stand Firm” at every opportunity and resolutely strive to preserve the sacred traditions and values that we have acquired and entrusted to future generations,” said Theodore.

We remind you that some time after the “Tomos of Autocephaly” was granted to the OCU, Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria first expressed support for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, arriving in Ukraine specifically for this purpose. However, later, he unilaterally reconsidered his attitude to the Ukrainian issue and gave preference to the OCU. After such actions of Patriarch Theodore, more than a hundred clerics of the Patriarchate of Alexandria wished to leave the omophorion of Patriarch Theodore and join the Russian Orthodox Church, for which the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church created a special Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church in Africa. According to the latest data, today the African Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church includes more than two hundred parishes across the African continent.