Phanar hierarch on Russian SVR statement: "We are always ready for dialog on the Ukrainian issue"

The hierarch of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, has commented on the recent statement by 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.

According to Orthodox Times, citing an interview with Parapolitika 90.1, Senior Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon commented on the Russian SVR statement regarding Patriarch Bartholomew. He noted that «this is not the first attack. Usually such attacks come from church circles, but this time they came from political circles.» The Metropolitan emphasized that in the current situation in Russia , «the two pillars, political and ecclesiastical, are communicating vessels, so this does not surprise us.» According to him, regardless of the source, «the same line is being viewed,» and the accusations are «baseless and betray their alarm.»

Asked about the alleged involvement of the Moscow Patriarchate in this conflict, Metropolitan Chalcedon expressed confidence, «I believe that everything said by the intelligence services was done with the approval, blessing or consent of the Moscow Patriarchate.» He reiterated the Phanar’s position, «We have never closed the door to dialog. His All Holiness showed good will from the beginning in trying to establish a common position on the issue of Ukraine, but they chose not to go down this path together. His All-Holiness continues to canonically commemorate the Patriarch of Moscow.»

Recall, earlier we reported that the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation (SVR) warned about the plans of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople to grant autocephaly to the unrecognized «Montenegrin Orthodox Church». It is reported that these actions are seen as a blow to the Serbian Orthodox Church.