The head of Montenegrin schismatics met with a representative of the Patriarchate of Constantinople

The head of the unrecognized Montenegrin Orthodox Church (MOC), Boris Bojovic, held a meeting with a high-ranking representative of the Patriarchate of Constantinople — Archbishop Ellia of Helsinki and all of Finland. This meeting, which took place in Rome, is in direct contradiction with the official statements of the Phanar about the absence of contacts with Montenegrin schismatics and raises concerns about a possible «Ukrainian scenario» for the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro.

According to the Telegram channel «Pravblog», another visit of a delegation of the unrecognized Montenegrin Orthodox Church to Rome and the Vatican, which the schismatics themselves position as a diplomatic breakthrough, revealed inconvenient facts for the Patriarchate of Constantinople (Fanar). Despite the latter’s official assurances about the absence of any ties with the self-sacred saints from Montenegro, the reality points to the intensification of high-level dialog.

A key event was that during his stay in Rome, the head of the schismatic structure, Boris Bojovic, held a meeting with the Primate of the Finnish Orthodox Church, Archbishop Leo of Helsinki and all of Finland. It is important to emphasize that the Church of Finland is not an autocephalous structure; it is under the direct jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople as an autonomous unit.

This contact looks particularly scandalous against the background of recent statements by the Phanar’s top hierarchs. In particular, Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon earlier categorically asserted that Constantinople has no contacts with representatives of the so-called Montenegrin Church and does not recognize their canonical status.

However, the warm meeting between the head of the Finnish autonomy, Phanar, and the leader of the Montenegrin schism completely disavows Metropolitan Emmanuel’s words. It is hard to imagine that Archbishop Leo took such a significant step without the knowledge or at least tacit approval of Istanbul. This event confirms the fears of many experts who have speculated: behind the facade of official denials, the Phanar continues to develop contacts with schismatic groups in the Balkans, in fact legitimizing them through its subsidiary structures.

The meeting in Rome clearly shows that the so-called «Ukrainian scenario», which implies unilateral recognition of schismatic structures, remains on the agenda. Constantinople’s assurances of non-interference in the affairs of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro may turn out to be only a tactical maneuver, while contacts between the Phanar and the Montenegrin schismatics not only exist, but are apparently being strengthened.

Recall, earlier we published an analytical material that Montenegro could become the next place of invasion of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. The country has long had an unrecognized Montenegrin Orthodox Church, which enjoys special attention of the state and is a de facto counterweight to the Montenegrin Metropolitanate of the Serbian Orthodox Church. It is possible that the Patriarch of Constantinople may do the same in Montenegro as in Ukraine, granting the Tomos on autocephaly to local schismatics.