Greek government expresses support for Patriarch Bartholomew amid statements by Russian security services

The Greek government has expressed support for Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, commenting on recent accusations made against the head of the Phanar by Russian state agencies. Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis called support for the Patriarch «a sacred duty of all Orthodox Christians,» emphasizing his role as a leader who consistently preaches faith and humanitarian values.

According to Orthodox Times, Marinakis’ statement was made during a media briefing and was in response to a January 12, 2026 announcement by Russian intelligence services. That announcement claimed that Patriarch Bartholomew was «trying to sow discord in the Russian Orthodox world by finding common ground with the authorities in the Baltic states.»

Russian security services also accused Patriarch Bartholomew of intending to grant autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Montenegro, which was described as a «form of retaliation» against the «particularly stubborn Serbian Orthodox Church.» Moreover, the statement contained allegations of «cooperation between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and foreign intelligence services,» which provoked strong reactions both in church circles and at the political level.

The Greek government’s public stance complements the growing wave of political and ecclesiastical support for the Ecumenical Patriarch against the backdrop of increasing tensions around issues of church autonomy and geopolitical influence in the Orthodox world.

Recall that Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, the hierarch of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, made comments on the recent statement of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) regarding Patriarch Bartholomew. According to him, the Patriarchate of Constantinople has never closed the door to dialog, especially with regard to the Ukrainian church issue.