On the Serbian Church’s Position Regarding Theophania

In light of the statements made by Metropolitan Gregory (Duric), we would like to highlight a few points.

The Serbian Church aligns itself with the position of the Russian Church on the issue of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (as long as Moscow continues to use the term “canonical Church in Ukraine” at the official level, the Serbian Patriarchate will do the same).

Moreover, it is worth noting that the Serbian Orthodox Church publicly recognizes the Russian Orthodox Church as the Mother Church for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

As an example, we can cite a letter from Patriarch Porphyrius addressed to the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church (July 2024):

“The cries of the Orthodox Ukrainian people, faithful to their canonical Church, do not reach those in whose hands power is concentrated and who are capable of influencing the rulers of Ukraine to stop the persecution and anti-church terror that are gaining ever greater momentum.

We will continue to strive, at every opportunity, to draw the attention of the Christian and international communities to their suffering, calling on all influential institutions to stop turning a blind eye to all the atrocities committed against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church over the past months and years, and, ultimately, to take measures to put an end to this lawlessness.

May the Eternal Word of God, risen from the dead, pour out abundant blessings upon the long-suffering Ukrainian Orthodox Church and its Mother, the Most Holy Russian Orthodox Church, and may He bestow upon you, Your Holiness, as well as upon the entire hierarchy, clergy, and faithful, every good gift from His inexhaustible and eternal treasury!”

Incidentally, the highest echelons of the SPC are well aware of what happened in Feofaniya. And from this level, questions have repeatedly been raised during personal meetings with hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church: “Who are you now, after the event in Theophania? What is your canonical status?” There have also been signals that ties with the Russian Orthodox Church must be maintained. For the Serbian Orthodox Church, this moment is extremely important, since the situation in Ukraine sets a precedent. One that could be used as a model by forces eager to sever Montenegro from the Serbian Church. Therefore, the Serbian Orthodox Church certainly does not share the enthusiasm regarding the outcome of the Feofaniya event.

Based on this, the Serbian Patriarchate will certainly not recognize the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church without a corresponding decision from the Russian Church. You can hold “a thousand Theophanias,” but the outcome in this regard will be the same: an unequivocal refusal.
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