Metropolitan Anthony (Sevryuk) of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, said that the Russian Orthodox Church would be in a very difficult position if the Latvian authorities sent a request for autocephaly to the Latvian Orthodox Church, «Romfeya» reports.

Metropolitan Anthony said that in the coming days, a request from the Ministry of Justice of Latvia should be sent to the DECR MP, which will contain a demand to grant autocephaly to the Latvian Church.

«If it is sent, it will put us in a very difficult position. Because autocephaly is granted to the applicant, and I do not think that the Ministry of Justice of Latvia needs any Tomos that proves the independence of this ministry from the Moscow Patriarchate», – the Bishop said.