Expert: Phanar's support for schism in Ukraine threatens Serbian Church

Patriarch Bartholomew. Photo: pravoslavie.ru

The actions of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in Ukraine, where he supported the schism by creating the OCU, is a threatening signal for the Serbian Orthodox Church and its newly elected Patriarch Porfirije, facing a similar situation in Macedonia with the support of the schism by the local authorities, Doctor of Science Dusan Prorokovic from the Serbian Institute of International Policy and Economy, told RIA Novosti.

According to him, after decades of attempts by the Macedonian leadership to secure independence for the unrecognized Macedonian Orthodox Church, the actions of Phanar in Ukraine are a new factor, since the Macedonian authorities have turned to Patriarch Bartholomew.

“It is paradoxical that the current authorities – Macedonian socialists, yesterday's communists and atheists, write letters to Patriarch Bartholomew asking him to recognize the Orthodox Church of Macedonia,” said the expert. “The SOC used to have extended communication with the Patriarch of Constantinople, but now this is called into question because of the SOC’s position on Ukraine.”

Dusan Prorokovic also noted that the SOC and the new Patriarch are facing the issues of schism in Montenegro and protecting the shrines in Kosovo and Metohija.

As the UOJ reported, the UOC commented on the congratulations of the Ukrainian Embassy to the Patriarch of the SOC on behalf of the OCU.

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