Pat Porfirije discusses govt’s errors towards UOC with Ukrainian ambassador

Patriarch Porfirije with the Ukrainian Ambassador. Photo: SOC

On November 5, 2024, Serbian Patriarch Porfirije met with the Ukrainian Ambassador to Serbia, Volodymyr Tolkach, reports the Serbian Orthodox Church’s website. During their conversation, Patriarch Porfirije emphasized that the Ukrainian government is addressing the church issue in Ukraine with significant errors.

“For us, as Orthodox Serbs, it is painful to witness the suffering of people around the world, but it is especially difficult to see the suffering in Ukraine, where Orthodox Christians are in conflict with each other,” stated Patriarch Porfirije. The head of the Serbian Church added that the problems in the Ukrainian church situation are a “triple sorrow”. “First, because Orthodox Christians are in conflict; second, because of the immense affliction and destruction; and third, because of the grave errors made in resolving the church issue in that country, regarding which the Serbian Orthodox Church has a clear and repeatedly stated position,” said Patriarch Porfirije.

The Ukrainian Ambassador expressed condolences to the Serbian Orthodox Church over the tragedy in Novi Sad and thanked the Patriarch for the Christian reception of refugees from Ukraine.

As previously reported by UOJ, the Serbian Patriarch sent congratulations to Metropolitan Onuphry on his 80th birthday.

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