Orthodox leader supports the acknowledgement of a self-governing Ukrainian religious entity
The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who oversees jurisdictions abroad including the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, has been vocal in his criticisms of the Russian Orthodox Church's support for the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. During a speech before the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Bartholomew denounced the Russian Orthodox Church for giving a 'ringing endorsement' to the invasion, stating that it had endorsed the 'murder of fellow Orthodox Christians by the Putin regime.' Bartholomew's criticisms are not new. He has been critical of the Russian Orthodox Church's stance on Ukraine since 2019, when he recognised an independent church in Ukraine, a move disputed by the Moscow church. The Ukrainian authorities are seeking to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church due to its continued ties with Moscow and its support of the invasion. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the United States no longer recognizes the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate and is seeking independence. This reflects the broader movement within the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) to distance itself from the Moscow Patriarchate amid political and religious conflicts, aiming for autonomy and rejecting Moscow's control. Bartholomew has also been critical of the Russian church's promotion of the 'Russian world' ideology, which has been used by Russian President Vladimir Putin and others to justify the invasion of Ukraine. He claimed jurisdiction to recognize an independent church in Ukraine, stating that the move was in line with Orthodox teaching. In addition to his criticisms of the Russian Orthodox Church, Bartholomew has called for peace in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and related conflicts. He has also decried the rise of online extremism and political violence, urging against excluding faith from the public square. Bartholomew is based in Istanbul and leads a small Orthodox flock in mostly Muslim Turkey. In contrast, Kirill, the leader of the Moscow church, oversees by far the largest Eastern Orthodox jurisdiction in the world, including churches in the United States. The AP's religion coverage receives support through its collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. Bartholomew is scheduled to receive the prestigious Templeton Prize on Sept. 24 in New York in honor of his outspoken work on behalf of the global environment. In the face of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Bartholomew has urged Ukrainians to reject a church that has compromised itself and to seek independence and autonomy from Moscow's control. He has also reiterated his calls for peace and a rejection of violence and extremism in all forms.
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