Come, invited

The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Bishop of Constantinople, refused to transfer the All-Orthodox Council, which is planned to be held on June 18-26 in Crete. It is reported by ABC News.

At the same time, Bartholomew expressed the hope that the Russian, Antioch, Georgian and Bulgarian Orthodox Churches, who previously demanded the transfer of the cathedral, "even at the last minute", will change their decisions, "show respect for their own signatures" and send delegations to Crete.

Speaking about “respect for its own signatures,” the Ecumenical Patriarch had in mind the results of the January meeting of representatives of all Orthodox churches in Geneva, on which the time and place of the Orthodox Council were unanimously determined. “The decision is obligated to these churches and their primates,” Bartholomew emphasized.

Earlier, the Antioch, Georgian and Bulgarian Orthodox Churches performed with the requirements to transfer the cathedral. On June 13, the Russian Orthodox Church expressed the same requirement. The need for this in the Synod’s statement was justified by the fact that in accordance with the regulations of the organization and work of the All -Orthodox Council, the necessary basis for its convening is the “consent of the blessed primates of all generally recognized local autocephalous churches.” “Such consent is obviously absent,” the document was approved.

The Synod said that he sends the appropriate appeal to Patriarch Bartholomew and all the heads of local churches. If Bartholomew does not accept this proposal and convenes the cathedral, Russian clergy promised "with deep regret to recognize the participation of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church in it."

The head of the external relations of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeev), accused the Patriarchate of Constantinople of refusal to call a pre -collection meeting to resolve controversial issues. At the same time, he refused to recognize the situation by dead end. “The situation that has developed is not catastrophic, but regular,” Hilarion assured.

Meanwhile, the Serbian Orthodox Church, which announced some time ago, announcing the refusal to participate in the cathedral, reported on Wednesday that she revised her decision and send a delegation to the cathedral . Serbian Patriarch Irenaeus, however, warned that his delegation leaves the right to leave the cathedral if the participating church "refuse to take into account all issues, problems and disagreements."

The All -Orthodox Cathedral was not convened for more than 1000 years, but has been preparing for more than half a century. As noted , the disagreement between the local churches grouping around the Patriarchate and the ROC allies - in addition to the Antioch, Georgian, Serbian and Bulgarian, is also the Czech Orthodox Church.

The formulated task of the cathedral is the adaptation of Orthodoxy to the conditions of the modern world. Meanwhile, conservative church circles, in particular, Athos, under the strong influence of the Russian Orthodox Church, oppose the formulation and solution of these issues.