Orthodox in Russia and Ukraine

[Owlswing]

Not knowing the first thing abuot the Orthodox Church other than what I have read on this forum, could one of the followers of this path, I thInk there are (at least) two, ex[lain just what is happening snf why between Russian and the Ukraine.

P S - Please move if on wrong Topic due to the poster's ignorance.

[ad_orientem]

The Russian Patriarch in Moscow has severed relations with the Greek Patriarch in Constantinople because the Greek Patriarch has backed a move by the Orthodox Church in Ukraine to become autonomous. I'm sure many think, so what? That would be to ignore the significance Ukraine and Kiev have to the Russian nation. Moscow might be Russia's captial and the seat of the Russian Patriarch but Kiev is both the historical and spiritual birthplace of the Russian nation. Relations between Moscow and Constantinople have never been that great but this is like a big kick in the goolies by the Greek Patriarch. That's about as simply as I can put it.

[Humph Warden Bennett]

The Orthodox Church is organised differently  from the RCC (Despite Scots and Ulster Prods who see the two is being similar). If two branches fall out it is for Bartholemew to bang their heads together.

[Anchorman]

The Orthodox Church is organised differently  from the RCC (Despite Scots and Ulster Prods who see the two is being similar). If two branches fall out it is for Bartholemew to bang their heads together.

Bit of a sweeping statement there. We've never seen the Orthodox and RC denominations as similar, but all part, like ourselves, of the one church.
I've served on ecumenical groups where RCs, Greek Orthodox, a Copt, several CofS and a somewhat confused Episcopalian gathered round the table.
( the 'pisky was not enamoured with our choice of refreshment.)

[Owlswing]

The Russian Patriarch in Moscow has severed relations with the Greek Patriarch in Constantinople because the Greek Patriarch has backed a move by the Orthodox Church in Ukraine to become autonomous. I'm sure many think, so what? That would be to ignore the significance Ukraine and Kiev have to the Russian nation. Moscow might be Russia's captial and the seat of the Russian Patriarch but Kiev is both the historical and spiritual birthplace of the Russian nation. Relations between Moscow and Constantinople have never been that great but this is like a big kick in the goolies by the Greek Patriarch. That's about as simply as I can put it.

Is this just the religious equivalent of Ukraine tryimg to be an entity independant of Russian authority in the aftermath of the break-up of the Soviet Union, something that Putin seems to be trying to reverse but without the Union bit, i e if you were part of the Soveit Union then Rusiia still tells you what to do and the Russian Patriach is aaying the the same rule applies?

[ad_orientem]

Is this just the religious equivalent of Ukraine tryimg to be an entity independant of Russian authority in the aftermath of the break-up of the Soviet Union, something that Putin seems to be trying to reverse but without the Union bit, i e if you were part of the Soveit Union then Rusiia still tells you what to do and the Russian Patriach is aaying the the same rule applies?

 

The Church in Ukraine is a mess. There were, I think, a few bishops who some time ago set themselves up as some kind of self proclaimed autonomous church and were promptly anathematised for their trouble. It is these, I think, that the Greek Patriarch has decided to back. Of course there's a political element to it, considering everything that's going on there. To be frank, I don't think Russia is quite the monster in all of this as the West would like to portray. I think most Russians aren't too bothered that Ukraine is an independent nation. Where it started to go wrong is when the West started to draw it closer to the EU and Nato. Spiritually, however, I don't think it's quite as easy to separate the two because they have the same beginings in Kievan Rus, which is the precursor to both nations and where they converted to Christianity.

[Owlswing]

 

The Church in Ukraine is a mess. There were, I think, a few bishops who some time ago set themselves up as some kind of self proclaimed autonomous church and were promptly anathematised for their trouble. It is these, I think, that the Greek Patriarch has decided to back. Of course there's a political element to it, considering everything that's going on there. To be frank, I don't think Russia is quite the monster in all of this as the West would like to portray. I think most Russians aren't too bothered that Ukraine is an independent nation. Where it started to go wrong is when the West started to draw it closer to the EU and Nato. Spiritually, however, I don't think it's quite as easy to separate the two because they have the same beginings in Kievan Rus, which is the precursor to both nations and where they converted to Christianity.

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Thank you; your informstive responcse is appreciated,