The ROC welcomes the election of Metropolitan Porfirije of Zagreb-Ljubljana as Patriarch of Serbia, proceeding from the continuity of the position of the Serbian Patriarchate on the issue of the Ukrainian schism, and is optimistic about the development of bilateral relations between the Churches. This was announced on February 19 by Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, deputy chairman of the Department for external church relations of the Moscow Patriarchate.

“The Russian Orthodox Church welcomed the choice of the Council of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church with satisfaction. Metropolitan Porfirije has long been known in the Russian Church. During his tenure as diocesan bishop of the metropolis of Zagreb, our Church, in cooperation with him, developed a number of common projects… In general, I look with optimism at development bilateral relations between our Orthodox Local Churches,” Balashov said.

According to him, the prudence and spiritual experience of the newly elected Primate provided him with the votes of the Serbian episcopate. “We proceed from the conviction of maintaining the continuity of the course of the Serbian Orthodox Church in everything that concerns fidelity to the patristic understanding of the unity of the Church. Metropolitan Porfirije is the defender of the canonical church system. In previous years, we have always seen his support for our Orthodox believers in Ukraine and rejection of schism.” – said the representative of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The newly elected Patriarch of Serbia has already spoken by the phone with Patriarch Kirill and the chairman of the Department for external church relations of the Russian Orthodox Church, metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev).

According to information of father Nicholas, the patriarchal enthronement of metropolitan Porfirije is scheduled for the morning of February 20 in the Cathedral of St. Archangel Michael in Belgrade. “A solemn enthronement with the participation of delegations of Local Orthodox Churches is expected at the ancient cathedra of the primates of the Serbian Orthodox Church – In Kosovo. As a rule, this enthronement occurs within a few months after the election,” he concluded.