MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 29th December, 2018) The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) is ready for help if the Patriarchal Exarchate for Orthodox Parishes of the Russian Tradition in Western Europe, recently dissolved by Constantinople, asks it to be taken under its jurisdiction, but the ROC has not received such a request yet, Metropolitan Hilarion, the head of the Church's department for external relations, said.
The exarchate of Russian parishes in Western Europe was dissolved in late November. Meanwhile, media reported in mid-December that it intended to ask to be accepted into the ROC.
"It is them who should determine their fate. The Constantinople Patriarchate has suggested that they should destroy themselves as a structure and an archdiocese in order for these parishes to join the local dioceses of the Constantinople Patriarchate. But it is a big question whether they want to join these dioceses of the Constantinople Patriarchate. And it is them who should give an answer to this question. We do not want to interfere until we are asked to ... It is the issue of their choice. Of course, we will help them if they ask us to," Metropolitan Hilarion told the Rossiya 24 tv channel.
