Greek bishop links Russian SVR claims against Patriarch Bartholomew to OCU
Metropolitan Iosif described the accusations as “lies” and an “anti-church reaction,” linking them to opposition to the recognition of the OCU.
On April 2, 2026, Metropolitan Iosif of Proikonissos of the Church of Greece commented on statements by Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service alleging that Patriarch Bartholomew had interfered in the election of a new primate of the Georgian Church, Orthodoxia News Agency reports.
The hierarch sharply criticized the accusations, calling them “a convulsive and profoundly anti-church reaction.” According to him, such statements are “a huge lie,” since the Georgian Church is autocephalous and resolves its internal affairs independently.
The metropolitan also said that “hidden church forces” stand behind such rhetoric, and linked the matter to resistance against the recognition of the OCU.
He stressed that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s visit to Tbilisi had no political character. According to him, the Patriarch came in order to honor His Beatitude Patriarch Ilia, whom he deeply respects and regards as a saint.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Georgian Patriarchate had called on the media not to discuss the election of a Patriarch.
