‘Problems Between Constantinople and Russia Has not Ceased’ – Patriarch Bartholomew

Pic – Wiki

OCP News Service – 1/6/22

Constantinople-Turkey: “The problems between us and those of our (Russian) brothers has not ceased” stated Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in his recent speech on the 31st of May 2022. He spoke during the occasion of receiving the honorary citizenship from the authorities of the municipality of Thermaikos in Thessaloniki, Greece.

In his speech, he made a reference to the historical meeting between the Ecumenical Patriarch Jeremiah and the Russian delegation in Moscow. The Patriarch stated “the Church of Constantinople was always poor. You remember from history that my predecessor (Ecumenical Patriarch) Jeremiah went to Moscow (1588) to fundraise for the Patriarchate and was detained there by the Tsar and other officials of the Russian state and was not allowed to return to his seat until he gave the Patriarchal Merit to the Metropolitan of Moscow. It was a kind of…pious blackmail. And since then the problems between us and those of our brothers have not ceased.”

The relations between Moscow and Constantinople took a worse turn in 2018, when the Church of Constantinople recognized the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).

Source:
OCP News Service