The Russian Orthodox Church responded to the invitation letter sent by the Ecumenical Patriarch to the primates of the local Orthodox Churches regarding the discussion that has emerged about the way the Holy Communion is distributed.
Moscow, through Archpriest Nikolay Balashov, the vice-chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, told RIA Novosti that the letter received only spoke of the practice of Holy Communion in relation to health restrictions, but did not mention anything about a meeting of primates of local Orthodox Churches.
“The Russian Orthodox Church has received a letter from Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople with questions about the practice of Holy Communion in relation to health restrictions, but there was no reference to meetings of the primates of the local Orthodox Churches around the world.”
The spokesperson for the Patriarchate of Moscow said: “If we are talking about the supposed convening of a meeting, I do not find this information plausible. However, we have indeed received a letter with questions about the practice of Holy Communion in relation to health restrictions, but it does not mention any meetings.”