The Council of the Latvian Orthodox Church decided to appeal to the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, with a request to grant them autocephaly. They also ask for appropriate changes to be made to the Church’s charter.
According to the Latvian Orthodox Church, at the Council, the absolute majority of those in attendance supported the amendments to the law initiated by President Egils Levits, and approved by parliament in September.
According to them, by October 31, changes must be made to the statute of the LOC in accordance with the law — that is, on the autocephalous status.
“In connection with the adoption of fundamental changes to the law on the Latvian Orthodox Church regarding the autocephalous status of the LOC, and in connection with the appeal of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, the delegates of the Council of the Latvian Orthodox Church signed an appeal to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill regarding the canonical resolution of the status of the LOC,” the statement says.
It should be recalled that on September 8, the Latvian parliament, on the initiative of President Egils Levits, announced the full independence of the Latvian Orthodox Church, which until then was subordinate to the Moscow Patriarchate. In the Moscow Patriarchate, this caused a flurry of negative comments and criticism. In particular, the bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church Leonid (Gorbachev) attacked the Latvian Church over its “toothless position.” The ROC also condemned the independence of their branch in Latvia due to the adoption of the relevant law. The Russians accused Latvia of an anti-Russian course amid the proclaimed autocephaly of the Latvian Church.
Also, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation reacted negatively to the autocephaly of the Latvian Orthodox Church. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation urged Latvia not to interfere in “church affairs”.
After these changes, the Synod of the Latvian Orthodox Church called on the clergy and laity to maintain a peaceful state of mind and unity of te Church, strictly observing the laws of the Latvian State.