Bartholomew: An especially loud message to those who, as he stated, oppose the canonical order of the Orthodox Church was sent from his birthplace, Imbros, by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, in an intervention with intense ecclesiological and pan-Orthodox content.
IMBROS – VIMA ORTHODOXIAS – Edited by: Giorgos Theoharis
His All-Holiness, speaking in the presence of the Patriarch of Alexandria, His Beatitude Theophilos II, and the Archbishop of Albania, His Beatitude Ioannis, clearly reiterated the issue of the Moscow Patriarchate's actions in Africa, while simultaneously leaving distinct barbs toward Prelates who, despite the passage of years since their election, have not carried out the prescribed peaceful visit to the Phanar.
Senior ecclesiastical figures who spoke to vimaorthodoxias.gr estimate that the Ecumenical Patriarch's position was not a simple reference to ecclesiastical current events, but a clear reminder of the boundaries set by the canonical tradition of the Church and the position held by Constantinople within the pan-Orthodox order.
'They will give an account to God sooner or later'
The phrase that caused a particular sensation was the reference by His Beatitude Bartholomew that those who 'oppose and fight the canonical order of the Church' will be called 'sooner or later' to give an account before God.
This is one of the strictest public positions in recent times, as the Ecumenical Patriarch directly linked the observance of the Holy Canons with the responsibility of ecclesiastical leadership toward history and Orthodoxy.
In Imbros, where he is located on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of his ordination as a deacon, the Primate of the Mother Church wanted to emphasize that ecclesiastical order is not a formal procedure but an essential element of the unity of the Orthodox Church.
At the center: Moscow's presence in Africa
The Ecumenical Patriarch was particularly sharp toward the Moscow Patriarchate regarding its presence on the African continent.
He praised the missionary work carried out by the Patriarch of Alexandria, Theophilos II, who, as he emphasized, visits difficult and poor areas of Africa under particularly demanding conditions, supporting the Hierarchs and clergy of the Patriarchate of Alexandria.
In contrast, he accused the Moscow Patriarchate that, instead of supporting this effort, it is installing parallel ecclesiastical structures and creating a competitive presence within the canonical jurisdiction of the Ancient Patriarchate.
For the Phanar, this specific issue is a matter of principle, as it is believed that the creation of a parallel jurisdiction in Africa violates the traditional canonical order and threatens to create precedents with broader consequences for Orthodox relations.
'Ingratitude' toward Constantinople
Even weightier was the Ecumenical Patriarch's reference to the 'ingratitude' of the Church of Russia toward Constantinople.
He reminded that the peoples of Russia received the Christian enlightenment from the Church of Constantinople and emphasized that the Ecumenical Patriarchate will continue, regardless of reactions, to exercise the mission and responsibilities that it believes belong to it within global Orthodoxy.
According to ecclesiastical sources speaking to vimaorthodoxias.gr, the Phanar believes that the issue of Africa has now exceeded the limits of a bilateral dispute between Moscow and Alexandria and touches upon the overall functioning of the synodal and canonical system of Orthodoxy.
The reference to the Archbishop of Albania and the barb toward Serbia
The reference to the Archbishop of Albania, His Beatitude Ioannis, was also of particular interest.
The Ecumenical Patriarch praised the new Primate of the Church of Albania for the fact that, after his election and enthronement, he carried out a peaceful visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, following the established ecclesiastical order.
Immediately after, however, followed a phrase that was interpreted as a clear barb toward the Patriarch of Serbia, His Beatitude Porfirios.
His Beatitude Bartholomew noted that there are Prelates who, even four or five years after their election, have not carried out a peaceful visit to Constantinople, even though they have visited other local Orthodox Churches.
The reference carries particular weight as the Patriarch of Serbia has already made visits to other Patriarchal sees, without having made a corresponding visit to the Phanar to date.
The message of Imbros
The fact that all this was said in Imbros adds additional symbolism.
In the place where 65 years ago Dimitrios Archontonis began his priestly journey as deacon Bartholomew, the current Ecumenical Patriarch chose to send a message to all of Orthodoxy.
A message which, according to the assessment of senior ecclesiastical circles, has two axes: no retreat in the face of actions that the Phanar considers uncanonical, and insistence on the observance of the traditional order among the local Orthodox Churches.
Imbros, thus, did not merely serve as the place for celebrating a personal anniversary of Patriarch Bartholomew. It was transformed once again into a platform from which Constantinople sent clear messages to Moscow, Belgrade, and the Orthodox world as a whole.