Serbian hierarch: Bartholomew is not Pope, he has no power over the Church
Bishop Anthony (Pantelič) of Moravici of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Photo: Facebook page of the UOC Information Centre.
At the International Theological Conference "Catholicity of the Church: Theological, Canonical and Historical Dimensions” held at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, the vicar of His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia, Bishop Anthony (Pantelič) of Moravici, said Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople does not have the same powers as the Pope, therefore he cannot make decisions on granting autocephaly to one of the structures of the Local Churches on his own, reports the UOC Information Centre on its Facebook page.
The Serbian bishop said that after the head of the Phanar granted the Tomos to the OCU, representatives of some Local Churches tried to meet with him to discuss the Ukrainian issue since such actions of Patriarch Bartholomew offend other Primates. “Patriarch Bartholomew did not consult with any of the Local Orthodox Churches. This offends other Primates of the Local Churches, and they believe that Bartholomew is the first among equals in honour, but not the first like the Pope. He has no such authority. The Ecumenical Councils and the Church Fathers say that the Patriarch of Constantinople cannot be the one who solely makes decisions such as granting autocephaly to one of the structures of the Local Churches,” said Bishop Anthony.
Also, the vicar of Patriarch Porfirije said that the Serbian Church shares with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church the pain of schism. “If one part of the body hurts, then the whole body hurts, and ‘the whole body’ is the Church. If you have a toothache, then it is unpleasant for you, the whole body is ill. Also, if a schism occurs in one part of the Church, then we feel that this schism affects the entire catholicity of the Church. The catholicity of the Church is in unity,” said Bishop Anthony.
As reported, we recognize only the UOC led by His Beatitude Onuphry, the Serbian Patriarch said.
Read also
Paris police break up peaceful protest against euthanasia
Outside the National Assembly in Paris, police cracked down on opponents of euthanasia legalization and took several activists into custody.
Family of Kyiv priest abducted by TRC says they have lost contact with him
Relatives of Archpriest Yaroslav Kruhlenko say they have been unable to reach him since he was detained by officers of the TRC and have no information about where he is being held.
Penitential canon read at Zabolottia’s persecuted UOC parish
The Orthodox community of St. Elijah on Bukovyna, deprived of its church in May 2025, is serving the services of Great Lent in a renovated space adapted for prayer.
Prosecutor’s Office demands that UOC hand over to state Staryi Pochaiv church
The Ternopil regional prosecutor’s office is seeking, through the courts, to annul the registration of ownership rights to the 17th-century Holy Protection (Intercession) Church of the UOC in the village of Staryi Pochaiv.
Centuries-old crosses from Serbian graves hauled away as scrap in Croatia
Municipal services in the Croatian town of Vrbovsko removed Orthodox crosses from cemeteries under the pretext of “danger to visitors.”
Reserve replaces Lavra Caves’ saints’ nameplates with Ukrainian-language signs
Online, people have shown what new changes the National Reserve has introduced in the caves of the Kyiv-Pechersk Monastery.