Q: For forty years, Orthodox Christians have been working to prepare the Universal Council of the Orthodox Church, which could solve urgent problems and promote Orthodox unity. The Council is still only a project. What factors prevent it from happening? Can it happen at all?

A: The preparation of the Great Council of the Orthodox Church has now been virtually suspended because of the problems in Estonia, which arose through no fault of our own. It can only be an occasion for regret, because we know how much effort and time Orthodox theologians have put into it. But we are still optimistic and believe that at the time when the Lord deems it necessary, the Council will take place, signifying the unity of Orthodoxy.

Interview of Patriarch Alexii of Russia with Greek newspaper Vima, 08 January 2006

source:  http://eng.sedmitza.ru/index.html?did=1829

[ed note: A parallel Orthodox church was established in Estonia in 1993 by the Patriarchate of Constantinople. The existing Othodox Church in Estonia was under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Moscow and All Russia. The Patriarchate of Moscow most strongly rejected this action by Constantinople as being against Universal Church law, and as working against Orthodoxy in Estonia. Moscow discontinued communion with Constantinople over this issue for some months, and still regards Patriarch Bartholomeos of Constantinople with grave suspicion.]