Russian sway over Orthodox takes a blow

Russia's presence in the presidency of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IOA), an international institution with an active role in promoting the values of the Orthodox Christian tradition in contemporary European and world affairs, came to an end on Saturday in Sithonia, Halkidiki northern Greece, with the election of a Polish MP, Yevgeny Chikvin, widening the chasm with the Russia on the religious level even more.

The post of president had been occupied by a Russian for 30 years without interruption.

More specifically, the representatives of the 19 Orthodox parliaments from all over the world expelled Russian President Sergei Gavrilov, who did not attend the meeting, as he is subject to Western sanctions because of the invasion of Ukraine.

It was preceded by a letter to IOA members and the Greek government by the Ukrainian Parliament, through...