Ecumenical Patriarch calls on Russia’s Patriarch Kirill to resign and speak out against war in Ukraine

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios of Constantinople stated that he does not understand how Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, can justify the war in Ukraine in his conscience, Greek newspaper Ekathimerini reports.

“It would not be possible for all churches not to condemn violence, war. The Russian church disappointed us. I did not want the Church of Russia and Brother Patriarch Kirill to be this tragic exception. I do not know how he can justify himself in his conscience,” Patriarch Vartholomaios said.

Patriarch Vartholomaios is considered the spiritual leader of Orthodox churches worldwide. According to church canons, he has the power to convene an international ecclesiastical tribunal.

“I expected Brother Kirill to stand up to this crucial, historic moment. If needed, to sacrifice his throne, to tell Putin, ‘Mr President, I can not agree with you, I resign’,” the Ecumenical Patriarch said. He added that history cannot justify Kirill’s stance in this unprecedented situation.

On 27 May, the convocation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, previously loyal to Russia, decided to part ways with the Moscow Patriarchate and become fully independent. The Church expressed its discontent with the stance of Kirill, the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, on the war in Ukraine. “The tragedy that unfolds currently in Ukraine is a result of the policy led by Patriarch Kirill in his role as head of the Russian Orthodox Church,” a statement by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church reads.

On 7 April, the European Parliament mentioned Patriarch Kirill among those behind Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, considering him a potential target for sanctions.