Patriarch of Serbian Church declares his support for the UOC
Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Porfirije. Photo: screenshot of the video from the YouTube channel of the UOC
The Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Porfirije, expressed his support for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and its Primate, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine. A video message from the Head of the SOC with words of support was published on the Youtube channel of the UOC.
Following a meeting with a delegation of the UOC headed by Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich), Chancellor of the UOC, Metropolitan of Boryspil and Brovary, in Belgrade on May 19, 2021, Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia noted the importance of maintaining canonical order in the Church and expressed concern over the situation in Ukraine.
“The canonical order is a condition without which we as Orthodox Christians cannot properly bear witness about our Lord Savior. Therefore, it is very important for us that the canonical order, which is much affected today in Ukraine, be retained. The jurisdiction of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, led by Metropolitan Onuphry, will be supported by our Church to serve as the evidence of the unity among the Orthodox,” said the Primate of the SOC.
As reported by the UOJ, the Serbian Church did not choose the "side" of either Moscow or Phanar, according to Patriarch Porfirije.
Read also
Ukraine must have its own faith: Poroshenko's party lays out peace terms
Poroshenko’s party European Solidarity described church policy as a matter of national sovereignty and said there can be no compromises in this area.
432 UOC churches damaged in Ukraine during war, report says
According to the Religion on Fire project, 807 religious buildings in Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed as a result of hostilities.
DESS official gives number of clergy exempt from mobilization in Ukraine
A DESS representative said the actual number of clergy exempt from mobilization is significantly lower than the number of religious organizations designated as critical.
Cabinet keeps gas prices unchanged for religious organizations
The Cabinet has fixed gas prices for religious organizations through the end of the 2026–2027 heating season.
Concert held at seized Cherkasy cathedral
The OCU thanked the musical ensemble for choosing the Cherkasy cathedral as the venue for a Baroque music concert.
OCU activist admits breaking into UOC church in Sloviansk
Oleksandr Onyshchenko said that the OCU held its first "service" at the Seraphim Church, which had previously been broken into by forcing the locks and doors.