Hierarch of Constantinople structure spotted at Epiphany-led service
Bishop Isaiah (Slaninka) of Sumperk at the divine service of the OCU. Photo: Facebook
On November 20, 2019, Isaiah (Slaninka), Bishop of Sumperk of the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, who comes from the structure of Costantinople in the Czech Republic, participated in the worship in St. Michael’s Monastery of Kiev alongside Epiphany Dumenko and the “hierarchy” of the OCU.
A photo from the service was posted on Facebook by Orthodox blogger Alexander Voznesensky. As the UOJ learned from its sources, Bishop Isaiah is actually staying in Kiev and it is he who is captured in the photo.
Isaiah (Slaninka) was ordained bishop in 2015 at the initiative of the hierarchs of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Metropolitan Emmanuel (Adamakis) of Gaul and Arseny (Kardamakis) of Austria with the goal of creating an “alternative synod” of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia. His consecration was not recognized by the head of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, Metropolitan Rostislav (Gont).
In 2016, Phanar and the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia reached a compromise on the recognition of the consecration of Isaiah (Slavinka).
In August 2019, Phanar initiated the creation of a parallel structure in the Czech Republic. At the constituent assembly, the legal entity “Association: Holy Patriarchal Stavropegial Monastery of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary” was created and adopted its statute. Among the founders are Metropolitan of Austria Arseny (Kardamakis) (Patriarchate of Constantinople) and Bishop of Sumperk Isaiah (Slaninka).
According to the statute, the Association is subordinate to the Patriarchate of Constantinople and extends its activities to all Orthodox citizens living in the Czech Republic.
Recall that in Latvia, in the canonical territory of the Russian Orthodox Church, on October 24, 2019, the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Latvia registered the “Latvian Orthodox Autonomous Church under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople”.
Earlier, Bojan Bojović, a member of the Montenegrin schismatic structure, served with the OCU in St. Michael's Cathedral.
Read also
Bulgarian Patriarch: OCU issue discussed in Istanbul
According to the BOC head, during the visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Ukrainian issue was considered with respect for the position of the Bulgarian Church.
Shevchuk to Cherkasy officials: UGCC is on the information war front lines
The head of the UGCC told officials in Cherkasy region that the church has become an important participant in the information war.
Ukraine’s ambassador to U.S. tells congresswoman why authorities target UOC
According to Stefanishyna, the UOC speaks about persecution because it is “linked to Moscow”.
Christmas procession visits UOC churches in Kamianske
A procession with revered shrines is taking place in the city, before which prayers are offered for peace and for the people of Kamianske.
In Kherson, Met. Ioann serves funeral for UOC priest killed by drone strike
The ruling hierarch of the Kherson Eparchy led the funeral service for Archpriest Heorhii Horbenko.
Persecuted UOC parish in Kruty celebrates Christmas in makeshift space
The parish has been celebrating the Nativity of Christ outside its church building for the second year in a row.