Head of ROC thanks Orthodox Church in America for supporting UOC

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus expressed gratitude to Metropolitan Tikhon of All America and Canada for his support of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and his stance on the non-recognition of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). The exchange took place on December 6, 2019, during a meeting at the Patriarchal residence in the Danilov Stauropegial Monastery in Moscow. Patriarch Kirill highlighted the importance of the Orthodox Church in America’s prayerful support for the suffering Ukrainian Orthodox Church and its appeal for the canonical Ukrainian Church.

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church emphasized the significance of the Orthodox Church in America’s principled position regarding the non-recognition of the so-called OCU. He noted that despite the challenges faced by the Orthodox world in developing inter-Orthodox relations, the Russian Church and the Orthodox Church in America remain in full cooperation and are unanimous on several key issues.

Patriarch Kirill also acknowledged the potential positive impact of their relations on broader ties between Orthodox Churches. In response, Metropolitan Tikhon assured the Patriarch of his continued fraternal prayers and invited him and representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate to the upcoming celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Orthodox Church in America’s autocephaly in 2020. He suggested that such a visit would strengthen their relations.

The Orthodox Church in America is currently in Moscow for the 25th anniversary of the opening of its representative office in the temple of Great Martyr Catherine in Vspolye. This visit comes as the Orthodox Church in America celebrates the 50th anniversary of its autocephaly, which was granted by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1970. The delegation’s presence underscores the ongoing diplomatic and spiritual ties between the two churches.

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