Metropolitan of HK not happy with Russians opening church

I'm told this Russian effort to reopen parishes in Taiwan is being done with the blessing of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow. As has been reported here over the years, the Russians and Greeks have been at odds over their discrete (if sometimes overlapping) attempts to bring the Church back to life after years of Communist suppression. Excommunicating other canonical clerics is a decidedly drastic next step in this feud. If that is what is indeed happening - other reports are conflicting with this account of things. Time will tell.

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(OMHKSEA) - Encyclical of His Eminence Metropolitan NEKTARIOS of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia to the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the Members of the Orthodox Communities of the Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.

Dear Brethren in Christ,

I regret to inform you that the following individuals, who reside in Taiwan,

1. Kiril Shkarbul
2. (Name removed by request)

created a schismatic “church”, the so called “Taiwan Orthodox Church”, and thus they excommunicated themselves and abandon the Orthodox Church-the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I consider them as strangers to the Body of the Orthodox Church and I inform you that they have no the right to call themselves as “Orthodox Christians” and to participate in the Holy and Sacred Sacraments of the Orthodox Church.

If any laity or clergy join them he shall have no partnership with us or with the Orthodox Church in general. I pray for their repentance and their return to the Orthodox Church.

May the Lord Jesus Christ save you from the injuries of the adversary and keep you as a good seed for all kinds of virtues and keep you all in true faith with good works and obedience to your Canonical Bishop and to your Spiritual Mother, the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

+Metropolitan Nektarios

of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia