Serbian Patriarch Discusses Ukrainian Church Crisis with Ukrainian Ambassador

On November 5, 2024, Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia met with Ambassador of Ukraine to Serbia Volodymyr Tolkach. During the talks, Patriarch Porfirije drew the Ukrainian ambassador’s attention to the fact that the Ukrainian church crisis is being resolved by the government with major mistakes that could lead to irreparable consequences. This was reported by the official website of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

“This is a triple pain (the situation in Ukraine — ed.). Firstly, because the Orthodox are in conflict with each other; secondly, because there is great suffering and destruction; and thirdly, because there are great mistakes in this country in resolving the church issue, on which the Serbian Orthodox Church has a clear position, which it has repeatedly expressed,” — said His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije.

Earlier, the Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Porfirije, criticized the continuous pressure and attempts to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The First Hierarch noted that taking advantage of the military conflict in Ukraine, the UOC wants to take away church property and transfer it to a loyal religious structure.