SOС hierarch: Head of Phanar may provoke a rupture with Serbian Church
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Photo: ridus.ru
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew set a precedent in Ukraine, which, if repeated on the Balkan Peninsula, will lead to the Serbian Orthodox Church breaking eucharistic communion with the Phanar, said Bishop Antonije (Pantelić) of Moravica, a vicar of Patriarch Porfirije, at the international theological conference at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra "The Unity of the Church: Theological, Canonical, and Historical Dimensions," reports the UOC Information Center on its Facebook page.
The Serbian hierarch noted that the rupture could occur if the Ecumenical Patriarch unilaterally decides on the "autocephaly" of schismatics in Montenegro or Macedonia, as he did in Ukraine by issuing a tomos to the OCU. "If decisions are made regarding Macedonia, Montenegro, then, most likely, we can expect such an unfortunate occurrence that could break the eucharistic relationship between Constantinople and the Serbian Church," Bishop Antonije said.
As the UOJ reported, Bartholomew is not a pope, he has no authority over the Church, according to the Serbian hierarch.
Read also
ROCOR Priest Reflects on Trip to Capitol Hill
Archpriest Victor Boldewskul participated in the Society of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco's Day of Action to raise awareness about the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Hundreds of Chinese Christians Arrested in Pre-Christmas Crackdown
Hundreds of Chinese Christians face spending Christmas in detention after authorities launched a sweeping pre-holiday crackdown on churches under Beijing’s campaign to control religious life.
Ukraine Adviser: UOC Not Banned, but Offered a 'Choice' of Jurisdictions
A Ukrainian presidential adviser said the UOC is not banned but pressured to choose between joining the OCU, submitting to Constantinople, or remaining unregistered, while dismissing international concerns as propaganda.
Indiana Reports 98% Drop in Abortions Under Stricter Law
Indiana’s latest health report shows a 98% drop in reported abortions under stricter laws, though dozens still occurred under legal exceptions and concerns persist about unreported pill abortions.
Armenian Apostolic Church Pushes Back on Political Encroachment
The Armenian Apostolic Church plans to appeal to international bodies to resist government interference and defend its clergy and sacred relics.
Attempted Takeover at Armenian Etchmiadzin Cathedral Thwarted by Faithful
Supporters of Armenian PM Pashinyan attempted to storm Etchmiadzin Cathedral amid calls for the Catholicos’s resignation but were blocked by parishioners and security.