Patriarch Kirill of Moscow is similar to Russian President Vladimir Putin, because the ROC has in fact invaded the Church of Alexandria, starting to bribe and divide clergy.
This was stated by the head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epifaniy, in an interview with DW.
“Now we see the Russian church invading the canonical territory of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, which recognized the autocephaly of the OCU. And this is a kind of revenge on the part of the ROC to the Patriarch of Alexandria. We see that Patriarch Kirill is like President Putin. That’s because Putin acts in line with the same patterns as Kirill is, acting on the part of the ROC. If they can’t influence someone, they try to divide them. They are trying to buy off clerics, promising them certain resources because there is no division within the Patriarchate of Alexandria as such,” said Metropolitan Epifaniy.
He suggested that there were some clerics who had received certain funds and claimed they would become part of the so-called Russian Exarchate. “However, this should send a signal to other local Orthodox churches. That’s because the ROC has violated and is still violating the canonical structure of the church, which was laid down at the first Ecumenical Council back the 4th century.
It should be recalled that Metropolitan Epifaniy said more than 50% of all Orthodox in Ukraine identify as part of the OCU.
He also commented on the current relations between the OCU and the Moscow Patriarchate.
