Patriarch Porfiry of Serbia discussed topical issues with representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church and Patriarch Kirill

His Holiness Patriarch Porphyrios of Serbia met today in Belgrade with a high-ranking delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church headed by Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate. The talks touched on key issues of the Orthodox world, including the situation with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the prospects for the development of Russian-Serbian inter-church relations. Patriarch Porfiry also held a telephone conversation with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.

According to the official website of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the meeting was held at the Church of St. Sava on Vračar. On the part of the Serbian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Patriarch Porfiry received Metropolitan Anthony together with His Eminence Metropolitan Irinej of Bacsk. Metropolitan Anthony’s sacred entourage included Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, Counselor to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, Deputy Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, and Priest Nikolai Vasin, Secretary to the Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations.

The interlocutors discussed in detail the current situation in the Orthodox world, paying special attention to the suffering of the autonomous Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Further prospects for the development of Russian-Serbian interchurch relations were identified, and other issues of importance to the two sister Churches were considered.

During the meeting, His Holiness Patriarch Porfiry held a telephone conversation with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. Patriarch Porfiry emphasized that the love he feels for the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church is identical to the love and respect that the Serbian people have had for the Russian people and the Russian Orthodox Church for centuries. In response, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill expressed his gratitude to the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church and noted the importance of the spiritual unity of the two Churches and peoples.

Recall, earlier we reported that the chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, commented on the situation in which the Ukrainian Orthodox Church finds itself. The hierarch noted that the UOC is facing unprecedented persecution and severe pressure from the Ukrainian government, which does not allow the leadership of the Church to fully respond to the challenges ahead. At the same time, Metropolitan Antony noted that despite the pressure, the hierarchs of the UOC are not drifting into schism, but remain faithful to their Church.