The Coptic Orthodox Church on Friday issued a statement denying any drop in ties with the Russian Orthodox Church in correction to what was circulated on media last two days.
The Coptic Orthodox Church affirmed that the relationship between it, the Russian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, and the sanctity of Patriarch Kirill is excellent.
The statement clarified that there had been a misunderstanding due to the similarity of names of their patriarchs as the Russian Orthodox Church had decided to cut its ties with the Eastern Orthodox Church in Egypt headed by Patriarch Theodore II, and not with Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church, headed by Pope Tawadros II.
The Coptic Orthodox Church is not part of the Eastern Orthodox tradition.
These relations currently have several aspects of joint cooperation between the two churches, in terms of theological educational institutions and the exchange of monastic, pastoral, and media experiences also in the fields of serving local communities in both countries and immigration, according to statement.
On Thursday, the Russian Orthodox Church announced that it had cut ties with the head of the Eastern Orthodox following his decision to recognise Ukraine’s new independent Orthodox Church.
It also added that it will remain in communion with those clerics of his church who didn’t support the decision.
The Eastern Orthodox Church in Egypt recognised the new independent Orthodox Church in Ukraine in November. It is the second church to recognise the denomination after the Church of Greece in Athens.
The Russian Orthodox Church also cut its ties with the Church of Greece in Athens over its decision.
In January, Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, who is considered first among equals in the eastern Orthodox patriarchy, recognised the new Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which had claimed independence from the Russian Orthodox Church.
