Expert: Phanar may try to give autocephaly to “Montenegrin Church”

Alexey Smirnov. Photo: screen video

The decision of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople to grant autocephaly to the schismatic church structure in Montenegro largely depends on the final position of the Serbian Orthodox Church regarding the OCU. This point of view on the air of "1Kozak" was expressed by religious observer Alexey Smirnov.

According to the expert, since "the Patriarchate of Constantinople claims the right to grant autocephaly to virtually any church structure, regardless of whose jurisdiction it belongs to," it cannot be ruled out that sooner or later it may recognize Montenegrin schismatics. And even if Patriarch Bartholomew today denies this possibility, then “who can guarantee that tomorrow he will not change his mind and take a different position, as was already the case in Ukraine; especially when parallels can be drawn between his accusations against the Russian Orthodox Church when he said that the ROC hadn’t done anything for 30 years to overcome the split, he can say the same thing tomorrow to the Serbian Church.”

He noted that Patriarch Bartholomew, “who positions himself as a spiritual leader of the Orthodox world and allegedly acts in the interests of all Local Orthodox Churches”, did nothing to help the Serbian Church in the situation in which this Church appeared in light of the adoption by the Montenegrin authorities of the discriminatory law on religious freedom, "although he had such opportunities". According to him, this law allows Phanar to exert pressure on the Serbian Church, including with regard to the autocephaly of the OCU, “so that the SOC will moderate its position and criticism of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. <...> And this law will serve as a kind of "Sword of Damocles" that will be constantly hanging over the head of the Montenegrin Metropolis of the Serbian Orthodox Church.”

“So far he (Patriarch Bartholomew – Ed.) does not want to enter into a tough conflict with the Serbian Church, because he is still interested in the final position the SOC will take regarding Ukraine. I believe that if the Serbian Church takes part in the Council in Jordan, perhaps Patriarch Bartholomew will tighten his position and try to act in the same way as in Ukraine with regard to the Russian Orthodox Church,” the religious observer believes.

He also emphasized that the actions of Constantinople are aimed at the assertion of their own interests, and "we are not only talking about some kind of jurisdictional dispute, not only some separate non-canonical actions of Patriarch Bartholomew – this is all about the planned strategy of Constantinople aimed at establishing Phanar and its power throughout the Orthodox world. And if he is not stopped right now, then he may be able to completely turn the tide in his favor, whereby a return to the status quo will be impossible.”

As reported by the UOJ, earlier the head of the Montenegrin schismatics, Mikhail Dedeic, expressed his conviction that the Montenegrin Church would soon receive full recognition from the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

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