Patriarch Theodoros stops commemorating Patriarch Kirill, Russian Exarch declared defrocked by Alexandria

Cairo, November 22, 2022

kremlin.ru kremlin.ru     

The Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria made several serious decisions today regarding the Moscow Patriarchate.

Convened under the chairmanship of Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria at St. George Monastery in Cairo, the Synod extensively discussed the issue of the Russian Orthodox Church’s African Exarchate, which was created late last December, and which has been spreading throughout the territory of the Patriarchate of Alexandria since then.

After its discussion, the Synod resolved to defrock Metropolitan Leonid of Klin, the Russian Church’s Exarch for Africa, “for a series of canonical offenses (invasion of the jurisdiction of the ancient Church, consecration of antimensions, distribution of holy Chrism, bribery of local clergy, even those deposed from the rank, factionalism, ethnophyletism, etc.) and condemned the new ecclesiastical-political ‘theories’ about the spread of the Russian World around the world on the basis of nationality,” reports Romfea.

In February, the Alexandrian Synod also ruled to defrock Archpriests George Maximov and Andrei Novikov, the two most active priests of the Russian Exarchate in Africa, though the Moscow Patriarchate doesn’t recognize this ruling. Pat. Theodoros threatened Met. Leonid with the same at that time.

As a priest, Met. Leonid once served for several years as the Russian Church’s official representative to the Patriarchate of Alexandria.

According to today’s statement, Pat. Theodoros has written to Pat. Kirill over the past year, calling on him to abolish the Exarchate. However, after months of silence from the Russian primate, the Alexandrian Synod resolved that Pat. Theodoros will no longer commemorate Pat. Kirill in the Divine services.

Pat. Kirill stopped commemorating Pat. Theodoros in December 2019, after the latter began commemorating “Metropolitan” Epiphany Dumenko of the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine.”

He also stopped commemorating Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens, and Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus for the same, but today’s decision from Alexandria marks the first time another primate has ceased commemorating Pat. Kirill.

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11/22/2022

See also
Kenyan hierarchs suspend priests who joined Russian Exarchate Kenyan hierarchs suspend priests who joined Russian Exarchate Kenyan hierarchs suspend priests who joined Russian Exarchate Kenyan hierarchs suspend priests who joined Russian Exarchate
The decree signed by the aforementioned hierarchs and priests shows that part of their plans moving forward is to deal with the priests who have joined the Russian Exarchate. Stern warning to Madagascar priests: those who join ROC are out of the Church and in danger of hell Stern warning to Madagascar priests: those who join ROC are out of the Church and in danger of hell Stern warning to Madagascar priests: those who join ROC are out of the Church and in danger of hell Stern warning to Madagascar priests: those who join ROC are out of the Church and in danger of hell
Archbishop Ignatios of Antananarivo and North Madagascar of the Patriarchate of Alexandria has issued a very strong warning to his priests about the consequences of joining the Russian Orthodox Church’s African Exarchate. A Timeline of the Moscow-Alexandria Schism A Timeline of the Moscow-Alexandria Schism A Timeline of the Moscow-Alexandria Schism A Timeline of the Moscow-Alexandria Schism
Jesse Dominick
In late 2019, Patriarch Theodoros entered into communion with the Ukrainian schismatics, setting off a chain reaction that culminated in the Russian Synod’s decision to create an African Exarchate, beginning with the reception of 102 African priests. OrthoChristian presents here a brief timeline of the major events of the Moscow-Alexandria conflict and a more detailed timeline, including various statements and smaller events.
Comments
Mikhail11/23/2022 5:38 pm
Pat. Theodoros is a schismatic...so it doesn't really matter what he does.
Aleksandar11/23/2022 1:44 pm
The Russian exarch in Africa is a response to the uncanonical interference of the Greek Church in Ukraine and other territories of the former Soviet Union and beyond.
Elijah Ssemwogerere11/23/2022 1:39 pm
I think as a church, we should maintain our principles of One, Catholic and Apostolic Church. The Hierarchs should be exemplary to the faithful's by showing the principle of Oneness. The decisions made should be for the benefit of the people not individuals. This decision comes when we have to separate Nationalism from ethnophyletism #AfricaMyHomeMyFuture
Michael11/23/2022 12:44 pm
Don't worry, Pat. Theodore changes his mind about who is or isn't canonical at the drop of a hat without explaining his reasons (that is what he did regarding Ukraine). He might change his mind again if/when the US State Department money runs out. Meanwhile, the African Exarchate of the Russian Church can bring the faith to African people without requiring them to pretend to be Greeks (or Russians for that matter). Lord willing, in a few years we will have a proper African Church run by African people.
K Van Dross11/23/2022 12:33 pm
Patriarch Theodoros is paid with dark money from the United States. He is a heretic. Anathema.
Alex11/23/2022 7:12 am
Pat. Theodoros is a joke.
Theo11/23/2022 6:12 am
The correct decision by the Patriarchate of Alexandria, if only late. Russia and its Church must be isolated.
anonsayswhat11/23/2022 5:34 am
The Alexandrian Patriarchate can't declare all Africa as their "territory". That was never the case.
Ilya Zhitomirskiy11/23/2022 3:25 am
This doesn't make any sense. Patriarch Theodoros may rescind his approval of any foreign clergy in his territory, but he cannot unilaterally defrock bishops or priests of another Church. Only the Russian Synod of Bishops can defrock ROC clergy. He can only defrock his own clergy, and that after ecclesiastical due process.
James11/23/2022 2:41 am
Axioi! There is a lot to dislike about the Alexandrian patriarchate. But this move makes perfect sense and was a long time coming. The Russian Church has been engaging in schismatic behavior, creating a parallel jurisdiction in Africa and losing the moral high ground after what the EP did with its own parallel church in Ukraine. In the Orthodox Church, local churches either have communion with their sister churches, or they go their separate ways. If Russia does not want to recognize the canonical territory of Alexandria, it can function as a separate denomination. (And the business of selective communion with the Greek church is silly - either the whole Greek synod is in schism or it isn't. That's not how local churches work.)
Raphael 11/23/2022 12:52 am
P. Theodoros: a true son of the Masonic, godless, elite children of satan. He will be rewarded well by his fathers and handlers :-)
Jacovina11/22/2022 11:02 pm
Don’t feel too badly. Same patriarchate that sent St Nectarios packing. I’d say you’re in good company.
Theodoros11/22/2022 9:54 pm
Patriarch Theodoros is corrupt. He originally supported the canonical church in Ukraine. He reversed his position with no explanation. He needs to be deposed. The Church of Alexandria should be led by native Africans. Greeks and Russians should defer to the native Egyptians and Africans. Enough is enough with the politics. The corrupt Greek hierarchs like Theodore, Bartholomew, and Elpidophoros have betrayed Christ. They have also contributed to the enslavement of Greece and Cyprus to the Americans. The involvement of the Americans in the affairs of the Greek Churches is demonstrates America is the enemy of religious freedom. Those Greek hierarchs who cooperate with the US are leading Greece to spiritual as well as political catastrophe. As a Greek I think the above mentioned hierarchs and others (the list keeps growing) should be deposed. They will answer to God for colluding with the atheistic and pagan west.
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