Bartholomew of Constantinople, known as the ecumenical patriarch and the “first among equals” of the Orthodox patriarchs, agreed in October to give autocephaly to the Ukrainian Orthodox church, essentially making it an independent church. Patriarch Kirill of the Russian church, which regards Ukraine as its domain, responded furiously and announced a split from the ecumenical patriarch. “Ukraine is an independent country and deserves its own church,” Makarios told the visiting Belarusians, who nodded dubiously. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Aerial view of the the Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi on Mount Athos. Makarios said Russian designs on Athos were nothing new, with Moscow keen on the peninsula since tsarist times.

Source: The Guardian December 14, 2018 06:00 UTC