ROC: Latvian Church is too small for autocephalous status

Archpriest Vladislav Tsypin, a professor at the Moscow Theological Academy (Russia), told TASS in an October 21, 2022 commentary that the Latvian Orthodox Church's petition for autocephaly, if any, is unlikely to be granted due to its relatively small number of parishioners. He also added that pressure from the Latvian authorities would not affect the ROC's decision.

"They could appeal, but that does not mean that the appeal will be granted. I think not," Archpriest Vladislav Tsypin stressed, explaining that the LOC is relatively small and there is "no ecclesiastical logic in separating". According to him, pressure from the Latvian authorities "cannot be a sufficient reason" for granting autocephaly.

Archpriest Vladislav Tsypin is a member of the Russian Orthodox Church's commission that considers changing the status of the ROC's structure in another Baltic country, Lithuania.

After the Latvian Seimas recognized the LOC as independent of the ROC, the Latvian Minister of Justice asked Patriarch Kirill for autocephaly. It was then reported that the LOC had also sent a corresponding petition to Moscow, but the ROC said it had not received the document.

As reported, the Russian Foreign Ministry urged the Latvian authorities not to interfere in church affairs.

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