The Russian Orthodox Church has announced it will no longer take part in structures chaired by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and that a deepening row in Orthodox Christianity over the Ukrainian Church’s bid to formally break away from Russia’s orbit may lead to violence.

The Russian Orthodox’s Church’s Holy Synod ruling body met on September 14 to consider a response after the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarchate said last week it was sending two bishops to Ukraine in what is widely viewed as a step toward declaring ecclesiastical independence for the main Ukrainian Orthodox church there.