ROC calls “transcript” of Patriarchs’ talks in Istanbul a fake

Meeting of Patriarch Kirill and Patriarch Bartholomew in Istanbul

Excerpts of a confidential conversation between Patriarch Kirill and Patriarch Bartholomew on August 31 in Istanbul, published by Greek sites, are a “fake sleaze”. This was announced on the TV channel “Spas” by Spokesman for Patriarch Kirill, priest Alexander Volkov.

Commenting on the publication of the “transcript” of the talks of the Patriarchs in Istanbul, which caused a heated discussion on the Net, the priest stressed that it was not true.

“Recently, some excerpts from the talks of the Patriarchs, which were held on August 31 in Istanbul, were published on some American, Greek news channels,” said priest Alexander. “Neither transcripts nor real negotiations but just some fake scribble, offered as pseudo-truths. What it is all about is even difficult to say. But it smacks of some kind of completely indecent things. Well, somehow this is out of place in the fraternal, Christian world. Even politicians of self-respecting countries do not act so.”

According to the head of the press service of Patriarch Kirill, the Patriarchate of Constantinople "has been committing lately queer, very unfriendly actions, going beyond all sorts of not only ecclesiastic but also human notions, agreements, conventions, deeds." The priest also recalled the publication on the Phanar’s website of documents on the history of the Church in Ukraine, which he also called “some strange pseudo-historical materials.”

“A precedent is important, a disappointing precedent all Universal Orthodoxy is looking at. All Local Churches are watching it now – the fact that the Patriarchate of Constantinople can act like that. They can deceive everyone, publish some compromising stuff from 'in camera' negotiations, which in itself is basically unacceptable in gentlemanly relationships. They can distort the story and write what they see fit. How will the Orthodox world respond to this? Let us leave everything that happens to the conscience of Constantinople,” concluded Father Alexander.

On August 31, 2018, Patriarch Bartholomew met with Patriarch Kirill in Istanbul, at which, as reported by the media, the issue of granting autocephaly to the Ukrainian Church was discussed. After the talks, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church announced he would not disclose the details of the conversation with Patriarch Bartholomew, referring to its being off the record.

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