Print

Ukraine is biggest problem facing Orthodox Church today—Serbian Council of Bishops

Belgrade, May 20, 2019

Photo: spc.rs

The Council of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church officially declared its non-recognition of the schismatic “structure headed by citizens Denisenko and Dumenko” in a statement published on the official Church website on Saturday.

Moreover, the hierarchs of the Serbian Church, headed by His Holiness Patriarch Irinej, called the Ukrainian schism the greatest problem facing the Orthodox Church today.

“The biggest problem of the Orthodox Church today is the Church schism in Ukraine and the unsuccessful attempts of the Patriarchate of Constantinople to solve the problem ‘on the knee,’ unilaterally, without dialogue with the canonical Church in Ukraine and with the Russian Orthodox Church, and in general without pan-Orthodox consultations,” the statement reads.

This is in line with an earlier statement from His Grace Bishop Irinej of Bačka who said that the anti-canonical invasion of Ukrainian Church territory is the greatest mistake in the history of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

The bishops again affirmed that they are in communion only with the Church under His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine: “Our Church … is in liturgical and canonical communion only and exclusively with the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, headed by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, and with all other canonical Orthodox Churches.”

According to a statement posted on the Facebook page of the Western American Diocese of the Serbian Church, the bishops resolved “officially and unanimously” to continue to recognize only the Church under Met. Onuphry.

At its November 6-7 session, the Council of Bishops rejected Constantinople’s decision to anti-canonically receive the schismatic clergy and people of the “Kiev Patriarchate” and the “Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church.” The May 18 statement is the first from the Council of Bishops since Constantinople joined the two schismatic structures into the new “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” and granted it autocephaly.

‘Follow us on Facebook!

5/20/2019

See also

Serbian Bishop Maxim of Western America backs down from pro-Ukrainian schismatic stance during Bishops’ Council

Serbian Bishop Maxim of Western America backs down from pro-Ukrainian schismatic stance during Bishops’ Council
According to the Serbian newspaper Politika, the Bishops’ Council of the Serbian Church, currently in session, discussed the Church crisis in Ukraine on Tuesday, as well as the views expressed by Bp. Maxim.

Serbs and ROCOR celebrate Sunday of Orthodoxy together throughout North America

Serbs and ROCOR celebrate Sunday of Orthodoxy together throughout North America

Serbs and ROCOR celebrate Sunday of Orthodoxy together throughout North America

Serbs and ROCOR celebrate Sunday of Orthodoxy together throughout North America
In a recently-released statement from the Serbian Church, it is recommended that hierarchs and clergy abstain from serving with clergy of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, as representatives of that Patriarchate have concelebrated with the Ukrainian schismatics. Accordingly, most Serbian hierarchs in America and Canada have instructed their clergy not to concelebrate with Constantinople clergy, His Grace Bishop Maxim of the Western American Diocese being the only exceptioin.

Serbian Church maintains communion with Constantinople for now out of economia—Bp. Irinej of Bačka

Serbian Church maintains communion with Constantinople for now out of economia—Bp. Irinej of Bačka

Serbian Church maintains communion with Constantinople for now out of economia—Bp. Irinej of Bačka

Serbian Church maintains communion with Constantinople for now out of economia—Bp. Irinej of Bačka
The bishops note that they were among the first, in November, to react on an official level to Constantinople’s plans in Ukraine, but unfortunately their voice remained only a “voice in the wilderness,” with only silence from Constantinople. Further appeals were also met with silence.

Ukrainian crisis in the diaspora: Serbian Church, ROCOR to celebrate Sunday of Orthodoxy separate from Greek Metropolis in Chicago

Ukrainian crisis in the diaspora: Serbian Church, ROCOR to celebrate Sunday of Orthodoxy separate from Greek Metropolis in Chicago

Ukrainian crisis in the diaspora: Serbian Church, ROCOR to celebrate Sunday of Orthodoxy separate from Greek Metropolis in Chicago

Ukrainian crisis in the diaspora: Serbian Church, ROCOR to celebrate Sunday of Orthodoxy separate from Greek Metropolis in Chicago
Each Orthodox Church must now decide if they will recognize the so-called “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” created by Constantinople—will they cease recognizing the greatly-respected Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine as the canonical primate of the Ukrainian Church and instead confess “Metropolitan” Epiphany Dumenko to hold this position?

“It’s like a bomb was thrown into our house”—Patriarch Irinej on Ukraine

“It’s like a bomb was thrown into our house”—Patriarch Irinej on Ukraine

“It’s like a bomb was thrown into our house”—Patriarch Irinej on Ukraine

“It’s like a bomb was thrown into our house”—Patriarch Irinej on Ukraine
The attack against Orthodoxy in Ukraine has been well thought-out and has struck the Church like a bomb, His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia said yesterday during a meeting with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.

Chauvinists, politicians, Uniates, and Constantinople spread schism in Ukraine, says Serbian Church (+ VIDEO)

Chauvinists, politicians, Uniates, and Constantinople spread schism in Ukraine, says Serbian Church (+ VIDEO)

Chauvinists, politicians, Uniates, and Constantinople spread schism in Ukraine, says Serbian Church (+ VIDEO)

Chauvinists, politicians, Uniates, and Constantinople spread schism in Ukraine, says Serbian Church (+ VIDEO)
In the epistle, the Serbian hierarchs touch upon the sad phenomenon of schism that affects the Orthodox world today, and especially in Ukraine. They begin by reminding the departed “Macedonian Orthodox Church” that autocephaly is an ecclesiastical privilege that does not belong to the political sphere.