Constantinople denied supporting Montenegrin schismatics

The Patriarchate of Constantinople has rejected accusations of supporting the so-called «Montenegrin schismatics.» Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, representing Constantinople, said the Patriarchate had never been in contact with the group, calling it «information noise» by Russian intelligence. He also commented on the situation around the Baltic churches, pointing to the believers’ desire for greater freedom and criticizing the reluctance of some Primate to commemorate Patriarch Kirill of Moscow.

In an interview with radio station Παραπολιτικά 90.1, Metropolitan Emmanuel denied statements by Russian intelligence about Constantinople’s alleged plans to support the creation of a «Montenegrin Church.» «I will tell you straight: we have never had anything to do with this issue. This is not even a church structure — just some group that cannot even be called schismatic. We have never had any contact with this group in Montenegro. This is just information noise on their part,» the Metropolitan emphasized.

In addition, Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon commented on the accusations of the Russians regarding the interference of Constantinople in the affairs of the Churches of the Baltics. According to him, the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) «already sees that many believers and clerics who are in the Baltic countries want to join the Church, which gives them freedom.» He expressed the opinion that the Churches in Latvia and Lithuania would «lose their flock» as a result.

The Metropolitan also criticized statements by these Churches that they are no longer part of the Moscow Patriarchate. As an example, he cited the situation with Metropolitan Alexander in Latvia, who, he said, does not want to memorialize Patriarch Kirill of Moscow. «The fact is that he does not want to memorialize Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, because he considers it unprofitable for their unity with Moscow to be visible. That’s why so sharply reacts this service — the former KGB, which we talked about», — said Metropolitan Emmanuel.

Recall, earlier we published an analytical material that Montenegro may become the next place of invasion of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. The country has long had an unrecognized Montenegrin Orthodox Church, which enjoys special attention of the state and is a de facto counterbalance to the Montenegrin Metropolitanate of the Serbian Orthodox Church. It is possible that the Patriarch of Constantinople may do the same in Montenegro as in Ukraine, granting the Tomos on autocephaly to local schismatics.