The actions of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, which led to a split in Orthodoxy in the world, are currently the main challenge for the Russian Orthodox Church, said Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev), head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, said TASS.

“The main challenge that is now being thrown at us is the anti-canonical, schismatic actions of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. This is what we faced in 2018, what split the entire Orthodox Church. This schism is deepening due to the actions of the Patriarch of Constantinople,” said the Metropolitan Hilarion.

He noted that the ROC practically did not lose a single parish, except for those that were forcibly seized by Ukrainian schismatics. “But a large number of new parishes have already been built there. Not so long ago, our church has grown with another structure – this is the Archdiocese of Western European parishes, which was for a long time in the Patriarchate of Constantinople, and now is in the Russian Orthodox Church, “the metropolitan added.

According to the hierarch, the main task of the church now is to strengthen its unity. And the main task of the DECR is “to defend our sacred borders and prevent encroachments on the heritage that has been formed over the centuries.”

The Russian Orthodox Church completely broke off Eucharistic communion with the Patriarchate of Constantinople in 2018.