The position of Metropolitan Hierotheos (Vlachos) as a component of the “Theory of the Primacy of Power” of the Patriarchate of Constantinople

The article examines the views of one of the outstanding Greek theologians, Metropolitan Hierotheos (Vlachos), as part of the “Theory of Primacy of Power” of the Patriarch of Constantinople in connection with the so-called Ukrainian question. After the Russian Orthodox Church broke off Eucharistic communion with the Patriarchate of Constantinople in October 2018, Metropolitan Hierotheos outlined his theory on granting autocephaly from the position of the Church of Constantinople. This theory, in essence, is a distortion of Orthodox ecclesiology, since the institution of primacy violates equal relations between Local Orthodox Churches.

At the beginning of the article, Metropolitan Hierotheos’s theory of an autocephalous Church is examined. His confidence in the special right of Constantinople to grant autocephaly is unfounded, since one Local Church is granted an excessive privilege that goes beyond its honorary rights and obligations. The Metropolitan’s theory of the gradual granting of autocephaly is examined in detail: 1) “by oikonomia” by the Patriarch of Constantinople, and then 2) “by akrivia”, by the All-Church Council. In any case, the Metropolitan supports the Patriarch of Constantinople in his actions leading to a schism, which complicates the possibility of restoring peace between the Local Orthodox Churches.

In conclusion, the author summarizes: the anti-Russian rhetoric of Metropolitan Hierotheus testifies to his biased and unscientific approach to the history of Russia and the Russian Church. His distorted understanding of history allows him to “justify” the decisions of Constantinople, which radically violated peace and harmony in the Ecumenical Church.

unity of the Church, institution of primacy, Patriarchate of Constantinople, Russian Orthodox Church, Ukrainian issue, anti-Russian rhetoric, autocephaly