The well-known Greek theologian, expert of Catholic doctrinal theology and Canon Law Ioannis Orfanudakis sent a letter to Acting Secretary General of the World Council of Churches John (Sauka) calling for the exclusion of the Russian Orthodox Church from the World Council.
It was reported by the Religious Information Service of Ukraine.
Orfanoudakis has argued that the Russian Orthodox Church "stomped on Christian values, blessing the aggressor in the war against Ukraine and supporting Putin, the modern Hitler."
"Today, I appeal to the values of the Council, from the territory of Ukraine where I am, at least to help as much as I can. It is love, realization, peaceful coexistence between people with different religions and in this case various churches, doctrines and denominations. All these values have nothing to do with what Ukraine has to go through today, especially for me here. The Church (Russian Church) currently included in the Council.The statutory values of the Council are now being stomped on. This is wild, everyone can be convinced of what the aggressor is doing in Ukraine. No one can deny that", - Orfanoudakis stressed.
He urged for the expulsion of the Russian Church for violating the fundamental values of Christianity.
"For what I saw, see and will see in the long-suffering Ukraine with tears in my eyes, please an organization, stand up for real values and react to these historical moments", - the theologian urges.
He reminds that after the Second World War the slogan "Never again!" has become very important.
"Unfortunately, 'never again' remains just a wish. And our Ukrainian brothers are experiencing this horror as a result of a barbaric invasion, which, unfortunately, was blessed by the Church, the Russian Church. Today for everything that is happening in Ukraine, we are all worried who have come here to promote the universal values of peace and coexistence. Today, Putin repeats Hitler's story with the support of the Russian Church. Now, we as Christians, have no right to remain silent and tolerate this anti-human practice in 2022, which destroys the God-given human dignity", - the Greek theologian urged on the World Council of Churches.
It should be reminded that earlier the head of the Russian Orthodox Church patriarch Kirill declared that war in Ukraine continues because in Donbass don't want gay parades.
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church also noted that the Russian Orthodox "can not be without their brothers in the Donbass."
The head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Onufriy, condemned the aggression and called for prayer for the Ukrainian army, state and people on the first day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Also, several priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Moscow Patriarchate appealed to Metropolitan Onufriy to convene the Local Council and leave the Moscow Patriarchate.