Russian Orthodox Church cuts ties with Constantinople Patriarchate because of Ukraine

The Russian Orthodox Church accused Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople of the invasion of its canonical territory and decided to cut religious ties between the two patriarchates during a meeting of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in Minsk on Oct.15.

“The acceptance and recognition of schismatic bishops and the attempt to backtrack its own historic decisions drive the Constantinople Patriarchate out of the canonical boundaries,” reads the statement Russian Orthodox Church published on its website late on Oct. 15.