Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia reminded Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople at their meeting at the latter's residence in Istanbul's Fener quarter on Friday of their mutual responsibility for the entire Orthodox Church and for preserving the unity of the Orthodox world.
ISTANBUL (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 31st August, 2018) Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia reminded Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople at their meeting at the latter's residence in Istanbul's Fener quarter on Friday of their mutual responsibility for the entire Orthodox Church and for preserving the unity of the Orthodox world.
"I have very bright memories associated with this place, because we have never done anything that could damage the universal Orthodoxy, because we are responsible for the whole Church, for the whole Body of Christ," Patriarch Kirill said, greeting the Primate of the Church of Constantinople.
Patriarch Bartholomew, in turn, opened the meeting by noting that he was glad to welcome Patriarch Kirill at his residence.
"Whenever you come, it's a joy for us, a joy to discuss together issues of mutual interest ... We believe in the power of dialogue ... Dialogue is the path that God himself has given us," Bartholomew added.
He drew attention to the fact that there were numerous bishops and members of the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople in the patriarchal residence that day, since the meeting of the patriarchs happened to coincide with the start of the meeting of the bishops of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which lasts, as a rule, for several days.
For his part, speaking of the importance of dialogue, Patriarch Kirill noted the difference between the dialogue conducted by politicians and the dialogue of church representatives. According to the patriarch, in political negotiations, everyone defends the interests of their own side, while dialogue between churches is based on the fundamental unity of Orthodox Christians belonging to the "One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church."
"And this imposes on us a certain responsibility and obligation, but at the same time gives both strength and inspiration for our service," Patriarch Kirill emphasized.
The two patriarchs met amid the strained situation currently enveloping the Orthodox Church in Ukraine.
Orthodox churches operating in Ukraine, aside from the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) � a self-governing church within the Moscow Patriarchate � also include those that are not recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, such as the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP) and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC).
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is trying to achieve recognition of non-canonical institutions and to create a single local autocephalous church based on them. In April, Poroshenko said that Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople was launching the procedures required to establish the Autocephalous Church in Ukraine.
In response to the appeal of the Ukrainian secular authorities, the Synod of the Constantinople Patriarchate said that it had decided to be in close contact with other sister Orthodox churches to obtain their information and enable coordination regarding the request.
