Scandal surrounding the meeting between the Phanar hierarch and the head of Montenegrin schismatics: Conflicting versions

Archbishop Ilia of Finland, a hierarch of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, has found himself at the center of controversy following his meeting in Rome with the head of the unrecognized «Church of Montenegro» Bojan Bojovic. While the archbishop insists the contact was casual and fleeting, the Montenegrin press claims it was an official event, raising concerns amid previous statements by Constantinople about not recognizing Montenegrin schismatics.

According to the SPJ, Archbishop Ilia reacted sharply in his Facebook account to the publication of the meeting, calling it «two minutes» and «fleeting.» He said it was only a «one-sided two-minute contact» that took place at a major event and called the spread of information about the meeting «shameless disinformation.» According to him, «there were no negotiations. There was no meeting,» and the incident is «an anatomy of lies put on display.»

For his part, the editor-in-chief of the SPJ in America, Ben Dixon, expressed surprise at such an emotional reaction of the Finnish Primate. Dixon emphasized that «the statement of verifiable facts is not disinformation,» and the article did not attribute malicious motives to the participants, but only recorded the concern of the faithful that two hierarchs of the Ecumenical Patriarchate met with a schismatic. Of particular concern, Dixon said, is the «history of legitimization of schismatics» by the Patriarchate of Constantinople, despite previous statements to the contrary. He noted that the bishop’s natural reaction would not be to show hostility, but to address the editorial board to clarify the situation for the flock.

Meanwhile, the Montenegrin press, citing the press service of the «Church of Montenegro», presented a different version of events. According to them, the meeting between Metropolitan Boris (as they call Bojovic) and the delegation of the Church of Finland was official and took place «during a solemn liturgical ceremony.» The statement claims that the «ecumenical delegation from Finland» included Tapio Luoma, Archbishop of Turku and all Finland of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, as well as Ilia Valgren, Archbishop of Helsinki and all Finland, head of the Finnish Orthodox Church operating under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Recall, earlier we published an analytical material that Montenegro may 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 counterbalance 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.