Istanbul, February 16, 2021
Photo: romfea.gr
The Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople met today in Istanbul under the chairmanship of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople.
Among the Synod’s decision was to transfer Metropolitan Emmanuel of Gaul from Paris to the Metropolis of Chalcedon in Turkey, according to the Synodal statement published on Romfea.
Met. Emmanuel thus replaces Metropolitan Athanasius of Chalcedon who was retired by the Synod for “a whole host of uncanonical actions” and “unbelievable disrespect” towards Pat. Bartholomew and the Holy Synod.
Bishop Irineos of Rigio was elected to replace Met. Emmanuel in France.
Met. Emmanuel was one of the main actors in the Patriarchate of Constantinople’s invasion of Ukrainian Church territory. He arrived in Kiev in November 2018 to help prepare for the divisive “unification council” over which he eventually presided on December 15. The council resulted in the creation of the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine.”
Met. Emmanuel was also involved in the sudden dissolution of the Patriarchate’s Exarchate of Russian Churches in Western Europe, based in Paris, in late 2018, which eventually led to the majority of the parishes reuniting with the Mother Russian Church in late 2019, under the guidance of His Eminence Metropolitan John of Dubna.
Met. Emmanuel threatened to sue Met. John if he didn’t cease fulfilling his duties as hierarch of the Archdiocese, though both sides buried the hatchet this past December.
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