Moscow, February 21, 2022
Photo: kathimerini.gr
The Sacraments of the Patriarchate of Alexandria are valid, and therefore there are now two valid Local Orthodox Churches operating in Africa. However, the Alexandrian Synodal Court has no right to judge priests of the Russian Church, says the Russian Church’s Exarch for Africa.
The Exarch, Metropolitan Leonid of Klin, recently opened comments on his Telegram channel, where users asked him many clarifying questions about the Exarchate, including the stance towards the Alexandrian Church.
One user asked, “Vladyka, are the Sacraments in the Patriarchate Alexandria valid now?” to which Met. Leonid simply answered, “Yes.”
The user followed up: “That means Patriarch Theodoros II has the authority to bless and judge?”—presumably referring to the fact that the Alexandrian Synodal court has summoned the Russian priests Fr. George Maximov and Fr. Andrei Novikov on charges stemming from their activity on the territory of the Alexandrian Patriarchate.
Met. Leonid responded: “Within the limits of where and who supported him. Nothing more.” In an interview with Interfax-Religion, yesterday, he said the decision of the Alexandrian court “will be of absolutely no consequence. It’s an unlawful decision that the Russian Orthodox Church will never recognize.”
The Telegram user continued: “Vladyka, have I understood correctly, that there are now two valid Patriarchates in Africa at the same time?”
Met. Leonid: “That’s correct.”
Another user then asked for clarification: “Vladyka Leonid, please explain—I don’t quite get it. You said the Sacraments in the Patriarchate of Alexandria are valid, but our Synod resolved that the Patriarchate of Alexandria has gone into schism. Does that mean that the Sacraments of schismatics can be valid too? Because according to Canon 1 of St. Basil the Great, that can’t be.”
Met. Leonid responded that, “Such decisions are made conciliarly.”
Concerning the inter-Orthodox recognition of the Russian Church’s African Exarchate, one user asked: “Vladyka Leonid, which Local Orthodox Churches have recognized the ROC’s Exarchate in Africa?”
The Exarch responded: “We haven’t appealed for recognition.”
Another user asked: “Who would they appeal to?” to which Met. Leonid responded: “To the Patriarch of Alexandria. There’s no one else to appeal to.”
Earlier this month, Met. Leonid expressed confidence that the majority of Local Churches will support the Exarchate, “Because they understand that the truth is on our side.”
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