Cyprus Times

“Attack” by Russia on Bartholomew: He has allies of Nazis and nationalists

Published January 12, 2026, 18:07
“Attack” by Russia on Bartholomew: He has allies of Nazis and nationalists

The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service is launching an attack on Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, accusing him of support from Western intelligence agencies and of attempting to dissolve the Russian Orthodox world. Specifically, Russia claims that Bartholomew is cooperating with British intelligence services to incite Russophobic sentiments in Europe. The Russian side argues that Patriarch Bartholomew has found allies in nationalists and Nazis in the Baltic countries, with the aim of detaching Orthodox Churches from the Moscow Patriarchate. Furthermore, he is accused of seeking to grant autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Montenegro, thereby undermining the Serbian Orthodox Church. Russia describes Bartholomew's stance as “aggressive” and expresses the view that the Patriarch is “dissolving the living Body of the Church.” These accusations come at a time of increased tensions between Russia and Ukraine, as well as a period of review of church relations in the region. The announcement of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service concludes with a religious reference, comparing Bartholomew to “false prophets” and emphasizing the need to be judged by his “fruits”.