Head of Montenegro’s schismatics meet with Phanar representative in Rome

Participants in the meeting in Rome. Photo: Zivot Crkve

On January 19, 2026, a meeting took place in Rome between Boris Bojović, who heads the unrecognized “Montenegrin Orthodox Church”, and a representative of the Constantinople Patriarchate, the Zivot Crkve portal reports.

According to the published materials, Bojović – one of the leaders of the Montenegrin church schism – during his visit to Italy held talks with Archbishop Elia (Valgren) of Helsinki and All Finland, the primate of the Finnish Orthodox Church, which is under the jurisdiction of the Constantinople Patriarchate.

The meeting drew particular attention against the backdrop of recent public statements by hierarchs of the Phanar claiming that Constantinople maintains no ties whatsoever with representatives of the Montenegrin schism. In particular, Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon had earlier categorically denied the existence of any such contacts.

Bojović’s meeting with a hierarch of a church structure under the jurisdiction of the Constantinople Patriarchate raises questions in light of the Phanar’s earlier assertions that there were no contacts of any kind with Montenegrin schismatics. What happened may indicate the presence of an informal dialogue with schismatic groups in the Balkans. The Rome meeting also fits into a broader context of processes that have previously been observed in other ecclesiastical arenas.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Finnish Orthodox Church continues to lose parishioners.

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