Fanar parish in Austria joins ROCOR due to Bartholomew’s actions in Ukraine

The community of St. Nicholas in Mödling (Austria) passed from the jurisdiction of the Phanar to ROCOR because of the actions of Patriarch Bartholomew in relation to Ukraine. This was reported by the rector of the community Archpriest Слађан Васић on his Facebook page.

According to the priest, he made the decision together with the parishioners because of the policy of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

He notes that the Phanar issued the tomos to “unrepentant schismatics” who are persecuting the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, headed by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry.

“We did not agree with the obvious non-canonical claims of the Phanar, which jeopardize the ecumenical unity of the Orthodox Church. We did not want to get into a situation where we would have to concelebrate with unrepentant schismatics, hence we all unanimously decided to go under the omophorion of Metropolitan Mark, even at the cost of persecution, which I now personally experience on a daily basis,” writes Archpriest Слађан.

In his message, the priest notes that since the outbreak of the war, refugees from Ukraine have been spiritually take care of in his parish, to whom the community provides material and moral assistance. According to the rector, together with the Ukrainians he prays for peace and the unity of the Church, but not for unity with Dumenko.

At the same time, the priest spoke about the persecution by the Phanar in the person of Metropolitan Arseny of Austria: “What right does the Greek Metropolitan Arseny have to declare war on me and my parish (so he literally said!!!)? Just because we do not agree with the non-canonical actions of Patriarch Bartholomew?”

“There are no offenses on our part, I did not commit any immoral acts, did not steal money, did not spread heresy, did not serve with schismatics like them, but only moved from their jurisdiction to ROCOR, which has no communion with schismatics,” he said.

The change of jurisdiction was also announced on the official website of the parish.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that in Italy an Orthodox parish had moved from the jurisdiction of Constantinople to ROCOR.

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