Orthodox ping; I suspect this has something to do with the incomplete reunion of ROCOR and the Moscow Patriarchate. I am somewhat surprised it is claimed that the Russian government is involved, but relations between the Russian state and the Russian Church are, to say the least, close, closer than in other orthodox countries, which should be a cause for concern not only for other Orthodox jurisdictions, but also for Western dialog partners and Western governments.
Resistant groups and schismatic assemblies are not uncommon to the Church, east or west. For example, there are bishops who deliberately refused to comply with the Pope's recent letter regarding liberalization of the Traditinal Catholic Mass (aka "Tridentine" Mass), or TLM.
You have Catholic sedevacantists who do not recognize the Pope, etc., not to talk about SSPX who are having disagreements with the official post-Vatican II Church. Or the Jesuits whose teaching is sometimes at odds with the official line.
There is a serious rift between the monks of Mt. Athos (Holy Montain) autonomous region in Greece and their claim that the Ecumneical Patriarch, to whom they belong, is a heretic.
The reunion is complete between ROCOR and the ROC. Some people obviously stand to lose a lot if not everything from this and are resisting.
I am somewhat surprised it is claimed that the Russian government is involved, but relations between the Russian state and the Russian Church are, to say the least, close, closer than in other orthodox countries
As for the government connection and the Church, in Greece the official religion is Greek Orthodox. It doesn't get any closer than that, Kolo.
which should be a cause for concern not only for other Orthodox jurisdictions, but also for Western dialog partners and Western governments
The Church cannot protect itself, so it formed aliances with governments. The Latin Popes, beginning in the 6th century sought protection and obtained it from the Franks.
The EP enjoyed the protection of the Roman Emperor in Constantinople. The Vatican today is portected by the fact that it is an internationally recognized secular state, protected by international laws. Without that secualr identity, the RCC would have to depend on the Italian government for protection.
This is best evidenced by the fact that the Turks show all the respect to the Pope as a secular head of state, and treat the Ecumenical patriarch as a renegade Turkish parish priest.
The Russian Church has over 80% of all the world's Orthodox. It is never going to place itsself at the mercy of the goodwill in order to have some elbow room to operate lest it end up the way the EP is relying on the Pope's internationally recongized secular authority to ease his miserable position, and viretual house arrest.
I am not so sure it is a bad thing to have a Russian President that is a devout Orthodox Christian..... :)