The relationship between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Patriarchate of Antioch since 2000 has been mixed: communion and direct contact have remained intact, but there have also been tensions over inter-Orthodox governance, especially the Qatar dispute and Constantinople’s actions in Ukraine. The visit of John X to Constantinople in April 2026 shows that, despite disagreements, both patriarchates still wish to preserve direct and fraternal relations.
This document details the critical state of the Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP) following the death of its founder, Patriarch Filaret, on 20 March 2026. It explores the subsequent election of Patriarch Nikodym (Kobzar), the resulting standoff with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), and the complex legal “gray zone” currently being navigated through the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).