Archbishop Elpidophoros protests to Secretary of State about Kosovo ban on Serbian Patriarch

New York, January 3, 2023

Photo: orthodoxtimes.com Photo: orthodoxtimes.com     

In his capacity as Chairman of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States, Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America sent a letter to the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken regarding the ban on His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of the Serbian Church entering Kosovo.

The Pristina authorities announced the ban last week, on the eve of the Serbian primate’s planned pastoral visit. His Holiness was then physically stopped at the border and turned away.

As OrthoChristian reported last week, two Serbian hierarchs in America sent letters of protest to local and state officials: His Grace Bishop Longin of New Gračanica and Midwestern America wrote to Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and His Grace Bishop Irinej of Eastern America wrote to Sec. of State Blinken.

And according to another report from the Serbian Eastern American Diocese, Abp. Elpidophoros also contacted Blinken, representing the Assembly of Canonical Bishops.

The diocese writes:

On December 29, 2022, the Chairman of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America sent a letter to the United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken regarding the ban on entry into Kosovo and Metohija to His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

In his letter, His Eminence expressed solidarity and sincere concerns brought to his attention by the hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North, Central, and South America with regard to the current situation developing in Kosovo and Metohija. In particular, His Eminence drew Secretary Blinken's attention to the denial of entry to Kosovo of His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of the Serbian Orthodox Church on December 26, 2022. Patriarch Porfirije was, thereby, unable to be with the Serbian Orthodox faithful in Kosovo and Metohija in the days leading up to Christ’s Nativity.

As a result of the current situation in the region, on behalf of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States, His Eminence called upon the Secretary to continue facilitating peace together with human rights and religious freedoms of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija.

The letter from Archbishop Elpidophoros, together with the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States, demonstrates sincere Christian love and unity to the Serbian Patriarch, clergy, monastics, and people of Kosovo and Metohija.

Also read Bp. Irinej’s letter to Sec. of State Blinken:

  

    

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1/3/2023

See also
Serbian hierarchs in America protest Kosovo’s ban on Patriarch Porfirije Serbian hierarchs in America protest Kosovo’s ban on Patriarch Porfirije Serbian hierarchs in America protest Kosovo’s ban on Patriarch Porfirije Serbian hierarchs in America protest Kosovo’s ban on Patriarch Porfirije
Two hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North America have appealed to state officials concerning the recent decision of Pristina authorities to block His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije from entering Kosovo on a pastoral visit. Serbian Patriarch physically turned away at Kosovo border (+VIDEOS) Serbian Patriarch physically turned away at Kosovo border (+VIDEOS) Serbian Patriarch physically turned away at Kosovo border (+VIDEOS) Serbian Patriarch physically turned away at Kosovo border (+VIDEOS)
“The Patriarch will not leave his people and will do everything possible to meet with them and to pray together with them to God as soon as possible,” the Church report assures. Patriarch Porfirije: Let us protect the heritage of the Serbian Orthodox Church on Kosovo and Metohija Patriarch Porfirije: Let us protect the heritage of the Serbian Orthodox Church on Kosovo and Metohija Patriarch Porfirije: Let us protect the heritage of the Serbian Orthodox Church on Kosovo and Metohija Patriarch Porfirije: Let us protect the heritage of the Serbian Orthodox Church on Kosovo and Metohija
Everything that is spiritual, if it is authentically spiritual, is never limited to one person or one nation.
Comments
Pfmd3/25/2023 3:43 am
..The last sentence of my last statement should read: “then your assertions of a large OCU membership in Ukraine is filled with deception, lies and satanic propaganda.”
Pfmd3/24/2023 8:16 pm
David: Your assertion that the OCU membership in Ukraine is “larger than the Orthodox membership in North America” probably is true, but considering the OCA “church-going membership” in North America is only 25,000 to 28,000, this is a minuscule number for Ukraine considering the population is forty two million. If you believe the CIA website as accurate that over 80% of Ukrainians are Orthodox, then your assertions of a large OCA membership in Ukraine is filled with deception, lies and satanic propaganda.
Mikhail1/7/2023 4:10 am
David, One truth remains. The organization known as the OCU, is comprised of a group of schismatic laymen pretending to be clergy. They have been attacking and persecuting the canonical Church since their creation. Bartholomew created this tragedy. There is nothing you can say to change this fact.
Peter C.1/6/2023 4:53 am
David, Neutrality is lukewarm and God vomits the lukewarm out of his mouth. Ukraine is an artificial state and must be recaptured by Russia not to be dominated by Moscow but to rebuild a Eurasian nation. A nation that surpasses national states, a Christian empire.
David1/6/2023 3:22 am
Peter C.: Given the MP's position on vesting (Catholic priests are just as "graceless" as the UOC-KP was), the MP's acceptance of the UOC-USA's canonicity (however begrudging), and the "fixing" of canonical irregularities by Synodal fiat by the MP in the past (Lvov 1946 and ROCOR 2007), I can't take the "schismatic" argument seriously. The MP's only really solid position here was the violation of their territory. Sadly, they threw away their moral high ground when they set up shop in Africa. Good people have thought this issue through. It doesn't mean they are "pretending" if they disagree with Moscow. This is why I am a big admirer of Patriarch Porphyrios. He walks the walk. "Canonicity" has also been weaponized. More is needed here.
David1/5/2023 1:45 am
pfmd: I may be a fool (which in our days of supposed "progress" is an act of conscience), but you are wrong about one key thing: I am not taking sides. I struggled for a long time about it, but the conclusion I came to was one of belligerent neutrality. I pray for both Metropolitan Onuphry and Epiphany, and I keep that prayer in my mouth when I am tempted to get worked up about the Ukraine issue. Nothing is settled yet, and the war has upended everything. Nothing is as it seems, and everybody is lying (Moscow and Washington). Propaganda is par for the course in war, and the truth is the first thing to go. The Church isn't a street gang, and I have no stomach for "hooliganism" in the name of the Church (it can't be in the name of Christ). This is a nasty blood feud that all of us were dragged into by political forces that have decided to weaponize the post-Soviet situation for geopolitical gain. Many in the MP don't see Ukraine as a separate country at all, and even view the UOC as "schismatic" (which is why Patriarch Kyrill had to release that statement rebuking clerics for opining). The MP's position in Ukraine is untenable. That is just a fact, and is not "taking sides."
Peter C.1/4/2023 10:25 pm
David, The Macedonian Church despite the prolonged schism had no dubious origins. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine for its part has shady origins, which calls into question the validity of its ordinations. It would be very different if the schism was led by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, but hey, it did not break relations with Moscow until recently. Likewise, he cares more about canonicity than Ukrainian national identity.
Pfmd1/4/2023 9:15 am
David, you are not only a fool who has taken the side of the neo-nazis in the Maidan massacre but you still pretend to be an orthodox believer.
David1/4/2023 7:53 am
Father Mark: Given that the schism existed before HAH Bartholomew's intervention, I am not sure what you are referring to. Millions of Ukrainians (even using the most conservative estimates, the OCU is larger than the entire Orthodox presence in North America and then some) were in canonical limbo for years before the EP sent anybody. The MP was (and is) utterly incapable of solving the problem, because all they had to offer those disaffected Ukrainians was gaslighting and marginalization. Screaming "You shouldn't feel that way!" at the autocephalists didn't change their minds, and maintaining that position didn't solve anything. The bitterness that sowed bore its own poison fruit, as the political winds (the Maidan) changed, allowing the OCU to seek vengeance (masquerading as justice). That the MP can't pastor in Ukraine is now obvious (if it wasn't apparent before), given their recent actions that thoroughly undermine the UOC, which they label as "support." Patriarch Porphyrios has done more for Orthodox unity in the last few years than anyone else. Serbia is not going to allow itself to be a pawn of Moscow or Washington, and the Serbian Church's actions reflect that. The way the Serbian Church handled the Macedonian situation was a masterwork of diplomacy, love, and charity, in that it allowed the EP to save face and at the same time allowed the Macedonians to go their own way. Moscow could have resolved the Ukrainian schism in a similar way, they just chose not to.
Hieromonk Mark1/3/2023 7:10 pm
Given the fruits of the Phanar’s establishing and promotion of schism in Ukraine, this is obscene hypocrisy on the part of Archbishop Elpidophoros. Will he be writing to the Ukrainian Government to protest at the exclusion of the Brotherhood of the Kiev Caves Dormition Lavra from the temples of the Upper Lavra? Will he criticise the authoritarian rule of Zelensky and his part in the erosion of religious rights and persecution of the faithful? Of course not. On the contrary, his patriarchate supports the persecutors who deny the faithful access to their own temples and holy places. Anaxios!
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