Head of the ROC DECR discusses Ukrainian church issue with Serbian Patriarch

On November 17, 2024, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church, met with the Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije. Among the issues discussed was the Ukrainian church conflict. This was reported by the ROC DECR Communications Department.

“Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk met with His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia in the building of the Bačka Metropolis. The conversation was attended by Metropolitan Irinej of Bačka, Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, advisor to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, and Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, Deputy Chairman of the DECR. The Chairman of the DECR conveyed to the Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church fraternal greetings from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. He also thanked His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije and, in his person, all the hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church for their continued strong support of the persecuted canonical Church in Ukraine. Various issues related to the development of bilateral relations between the two fraternal Orthodox Churches and pan-Orthodox issues were discussed,” — the DECR said in a statement.

As reported, 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.