The Exarch of the Phanar in Lithuania Visited the Ukrainian Orthodox Community in Vilnius

On November 1, 2026, Bishop Panaret of Tamassos of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, appointed Patriarchal Exarch in Lithuania, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. Andrew’s Church in Vilnius. The service was a significant event for the local Ukrainian Orthodox community, and Father Jeremiah Yurchenko concelebrated with the Exarch. This was reported by Vima Orthodoxias.

“I urge the faithful not to wait for special circumstances, but to take concrete steps of love and repentance starting today,” the Exarch noted. He called on the community to be sincere in their relationships, emphasizing the importance of being able to acknowledge one’s mistakes, ask for forgiveness, and thank one another. According to the hierarch, it is precisely such simple yet profound actions that form the foundation of unity within the church family.

Following the Liturgy, a communal meal took place, during which the Patriarchal Exarch conversed with parishioners in a warm, informal setting, once again reaffirming the Phanar’s support for the community.

It should be recalled that hierarchs, monastics, and laypersons of the Lithuanian Orthodox Church (LOC) expressed strong opposition to attempts to transfer parishes under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Representatives of the largest monasteries and parishes in Vilnius sent official appeals to the Lithuanian Seimas, in which they declared their intention to maintain their canonical affiliation despite political pressure and the legislative initiatives under consideration.