Serbian bishop reacts strongly to the recognition of the OCU Autocephaly by Greek Church

According to the representative of the Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Bishop Irenaeus of Bačka, the inclusion in the diptych of the Primate of the OCU, Metropolitan Epifaniy, is “the last step before the abyss of an even deeper and dangerous schism in Ecumenical Orthodoxy.” It was reported by Segodnya.

The name of the head of the local Ukrainian Church was mentioned during the recent Liturgy in Thessaloniki, which was held by Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and Archbishop Jerome of Athens.

The Serbian Bishop said that the recognition of the OCU “will entail the exclusion of the name of the Archbishop of Athens from the diptych of the Russian Orthodox Church and the termination of communication with all the hierarchs of the Greek Church”, who will accept his position.

The Bishop accused the leadership of the Greek Orthodox Church of schism and called to cancel the recognition of Ukrainian autocephaly, adding that the Serbian Church does not recognize either the OCU or its representatives.

We should add that no other position of individual bishops of the SOC was expected because after the Orthodox Church of Ukraine received the Tomos last year, the President of Montenegro Milo Djukanovic expressed his intention to restore the Autocephalous Montenegrin Orthodox Church, which today remains part of the Belgrade Metropolia of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

On November 12, the Serbian Orthodox Church announced its position on the Ecumenical Patriarch's latest decisions on the Ukrainian issue, according to the media outlet Cerkvarium. The text of the release appeared on the official website of the Serbian Orthodox Church, but it is not a conciliar document. In fact, this is a brief description of the position of the bishops ' Council of the Serbian Church, which is stated by the famous supporter of Russia, Bishop Irenaeus of Bačka. Accordingly, the Serbian Church refuses from "liturgical and canonical communion" with these Church figures and their supporters, who recognize the autocephaly of the OCU. It is proposed that the issue of autocephaly and Orthodox Diasporas be considered by all Churches at the Pan-Orthodox Council. It remains to wait for the official text of the statement of the bishops ' Council of the Serbian Orthodox Church to make final conclusions. However, according to Cerkvarium, it is already clear that the Serbian Church does not intend to break its canonical relations with Constantinople because of the Ukrainian issue. As reported, Irenaeus of Bačka has recently received a very negative response from the representative of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Metropolitan Apostle (Vulgaris) of Miletus for his openly pro-Russian position.