Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke about the developments in the Ukrainian autocephaly in a press conference, noting that Constantinople Patriarch Bartholomew has a mission to "bury the influence of Orthodoxy."
The United States is working to neutralize the role of Orthodoxy in the world, said Lavrov, referring to Patriarch Bartholomew.
"His mission, obviously, is being prepared by the Americans and they do not hide that they are actively cooperating with him, using the slogan of 'freedom of religion and belief'," he said.
"Bartholomew's mission, obviously, is to bury the influence of Orthodoxy in the modern world," Lavrov continued.
"I just do not see any explanation for this man's action," he said during a press conference, likening his actions to "Pandora's Box."
Regarding Ukraine's autocephaly, or independence from the Moscow Patriarchate that was signed off and recognized by Constantinople, Lavrov stressed that the Americans pushed Bartholomew to follow the path of schism, undermining centuries-old traditions.
It is recalled that Bartholomew awarded autocephaly to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kiev Patriarchate (UOC-KP), headed by Epiphanius.
However, the Moscow Patriarchate, like the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, has not recognized the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kiev Patriarchate (UOC-KP).
In particular, the Moscow Patriarchate, describing the developments, has spoken of "legitimizing the schism", stressing that it could have catastrophic consequences and affect the lives of millions of Christians in Ukraine and elsewhere.
Recently, the head of the Department of Foreign Ecclesiastical Relations (TEES) of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, spoke of a "political plan aimed at weakening the Russian Orthodox Church."
In speaking to Rossiya 24, he also referred to the role played by Bartholomew, noting that "direct and leading participation was the Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew, who relied and still relies on the US government power structures."
