The Russian Orthodox Church sent an instruction to the heads of dioceses prohibiting communication with the hierarchs of the Hellenic Orthodox Church, who co-served with the clergy of the OCU.
A letter with a list of 19 bishops headed by the Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Hellas was published on the website of the Russian Orthodox Church.
“In fulfillment of the decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church of October 17, 2019, (journal No. 125) “The holy canons condemn those who engage in prayerful communication and co-serve with those who are excommunicated and (Apost. 10, 11, 1; 5 , Antioch 2, etc.). In this regard, we are terminating prayer and eucharistic communication with those bishops of the Church of Hellas who entered or will enter into such communication with representatives of Ukrainian non-canonical schismatic communities. We also do not bless the implementation of pilgrimage trips in the dioceses led by the specified bishops. I am sending you an updated list of hierarchs of the Orthodox Church of Hellas who have allowed co-service with Ukrainian schismatics, with whom prayer and eucharistic communication has not been blessed and in whose dioceses pilgrimage has not been blessed either,” stated the letter signed by Metropolitan Dionysiy, who manages the affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate.
