The following Statement on Academic Freedom was emailed to the IOTA membership yesterday, November 10. We share it with our global readership to express our agreement with the Statement and our support for Archimandrite Cyril Hovorun.

Archimandrite Cyril Hovorun

As a scholarly society serving the Church, the International Orthodox Theological Association (IOTA) champions academic freedom. IOTA also promotes the healing of divisions within the Church and stands against the spirit of alienation.

On September 25, 2023, the Patriarch of Moscow suspended Archimandrite Cyril Hovorun from his priestly duties. The reason cited for this disciplinary action was Hovorun’s co-serving with the hierarchs and clergy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate with which the Moscow Patriarchate unilaterally broke communion in December 2018. The unilateral breaking of communion runs against the spirit of Orthodox unity. When the communion is broken without serious theological reasons, the whole church suffers.

Moreover, the cited reason – Hovorun’s intercommunion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s clergy – appears to be only a pretext for this disciplinary action. The main reason is Fr. Cyril’s academic work, in which he has criticized the Moscow Patriarchate’s involvement in the Russian war against Ukraine. This disciplinary action is an attempt to silence Hovorun. It is also an attempt to intimidate other courageous Orthodox leaders, especially those currently residing in Russia, who dare to speak out against the war. Such a repressive action is a blow to academic freedom and the freedom of conscience. The violation of these freedoms anywhere is a threat to freedoms everywhere. The IOTA Board of Directors supports these freedoms and calls upon all Orthodox Christian leaders to refrain from and oppose repressive actions within the church.

Photo credit: The Wheel.