It was a moving message, the one that Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, Mr. Ioannis, read at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, for the 10th anniversary of the enthronement of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Mr. Kirill.
At his message, the Patriarch of Antioch says how thrilled and pleased he is to be present at the co-liturgy with Patriarch of Serbia Mr. Irenej, and the rest of the bishops.
Mr. Ioannis referred to the personal spiritual experience of the Patriarch of Moscow, “at difficult times, during the communist regime, which had its own means and methods of persecution against the Church and its faithful children”.
The Patriarch of Antioch added that, since the late Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras called for the pan-Orthodox Councils at Rhodes in 1961, the local Orthodox Churches chose to suffer for Christ and the reverence of Orthodoxy.
“Our relations have since been characterized by the principle of the pan-Orthodox ‘holy consensus’, as the Patriarch Athenagoras and some of his associates called it”, Mr. Ioannis said.
He also referred to the issuing of Autocephaly to the Church of Ukraine, pointing out that what happens these days greatly distressed the Orthodox Church because of the individuation and the lack of dialogue and collegiality.
“Nevertheless, I have to stress that it is time to raise our voice. Silence on deviations is abhorrent, if it does not turn into prayer and supplication.
“I urge all our brothers, the heads of the local Orthodox Churches, to put ourselves together, to meet, announcing to everyone around the world that we are committed to the unity of the Holy Orthodox Church and the belief that the light comes from the light of Christ and it continues to be bright and beautiful”, Mr. Ioannis noted.