Vladimir Rozanskij

For nearly two years, new President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been liberalizing the country, opening the economy to foreign investments from the East and West, granting amnesty political opponents. There is a cultural and tourism renaissance. A model of inter-religious coexistence between Muslims and Christians.

Metropolitan Hilarion, in Rome as a guest of the Youth Synod, met Pope Francis on Friday and Card Koch on Thursday, presenting the reasons for the break-up of the communion between Moscow and Constantinople.

For the Patriarchal Synod of Moscow, it is a "forced decision" after the recognition of the "schismatics" (ie Filaret of Kiev, of the independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church). Also Putin and his Security Council worried about the tensions between Orthodox of Russian obedience and of Kiev in Ukraine.

The President of the Constitutional Court Valerij Zorkin pushes for a reform creating a non-elective charge of "leader of the nation", a synthesis of all the aspirations of the Russian people. The figure head would defend Russian sovereignty against sanctions, individual liberalism and international courts such as the Hague Human Rights Tribunal. Putin gets ready.

The Synod of Constantinople confirms the will to grant it, perhaps in November. The condition: an agreement between the Orthodox traditions present in Ukraine. Kiev Patriarchate of Filaret and the Ukrainian Orthodox autocephalous Church, the "underground" community of Soviet times return to Orthodox communion. The statement of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and the exhortation to "avoid violence and reprisals". Moscow: A "catastrophic" decision.

Today a Synod in Istanbul will decide on autocephaly to the Ukrainian Church, opposed by Moscow. The Church of Antioch is also advises against taking unilateral decisions. The risk of fracture in orthodox communion.

Salome Zurabishvili, of the patriotic and anti-Russian "dreamers" group, makes accusation. Patriarch Ilja II demands greater neutrality from members. Fears of repercussions on relations between the patriarchate of Moscow and Kiev.

The church, seized by the Bolsheviks in 1933, was supposed to be returned following the end of communism in the 1990s, but nothing happened. Dmitry Medvedev promised to restore the church by 2016. But the local administration has made it the seat of the Kirov Philharmonic. The faithful were allowed to celebrate Mass 25 times in a year, paying a rent of 1000 euros.

It is the first time in the history of the Armenian Church. Apparent pressures from new leadership which emerged from the "velvet revolution". Karekin is deemed too friendly to former President Serž Sargsyan. Some monks accuse him of having manipulated the relic of Longinus' spear, the one that pierced Christ's heart on the Cross.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is on the “homestretch” to the Tomos, the decree that recognises its independence from the Russian Patriarchate. Now Belarus too is seeking the same right from Constantinople. The declaration of the Moscow Synod on 14 September suspending Eucharistic communion with Constantinople was met with the stony silence of the other 13 canonical Orthodox Churches.

The Patriarchate led by Kirill has begun to redevelop the centre of Sergiyev Posad, a city that is home to Russia’s most important monastery. The goal of the project is to build an "open-air” church of almost 20 hectares.

Moscow suspends relations with Constantinople. Rejects “incursions” of Phanar representatives in Moscow territory. Onufrij distances himself from any political interpretation.