“It is very important for us that the canonical order, which is in crisis today in Ukraine, is safe. The jurisdiction of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, headed by Metropolitan Onufry, will be supported by our Church and this will be evidence of the unity concluded between the Orthodox.”

This was stated by His Holiness Patriarch Porfiry of Serbia following a meeting with the Administrator of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary, and a delegation of the UOC in Belgrade on May 19, 2021, reports the Information and Education Department of the UOC.

Today we had a great blessing and great joy, today Metropolitan Anthony of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church visited us. This is the first visit of one of the bishops of another Local Orthodox Church after we ascended the throne of the Serbian Patriarch. We talked about many of the problems that the Orthodox Church as a whole faces today, but also about the problems that the Orthodox world is facing and came to the conclusion that right now the world more than when it needs Christ – Crucified and Risen, as the One Who is Peace and without Whom there can be no peace either with oneself, or with the creation of God, or with other people. Only when we reach peace with Christ can we expect that peace and love with everything that is God’s creation will begin to be realized in every other plan.

Also, we stated that it is immeasurably important for us to have the unity of faith, so that we have the unity of dogmas. But at the same time, the condition for the unity and preservation of the true Orthodox faith is the preservation of the canonical order of the Church. Our Church, mainly conciliarly, but also through the lips of our blessed Patriarch Irenaeus expressed her concern about the Orthodox Church in Ukraine and the church order in Ukraine. We are Orthodox Serbs, we perceive the Orthodox Ukrainian people and all Orthodox Christians as our brothers. Meanwhile, concern about order is not an expression of our attitude towards someone with more, but towards someone with less sympathy. The canonical order is a condition without which we, as Orthodox Christians, cannot bear witness in the right way about our Lord our Savior. Therefore, it is very important for us that the canonical order, which is now in crisis in Ukraine, is safe. The jurisdiction of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, headed by Metropolitan Onufry, will be supported by our Church and this will be evidence of the unity concluded between the Orthodox.

Also, rejoicing at this meeting, we pray to God that the Lord would give his peace to the whole world, peace among people, which is under threat. For the world in the narrower sense of the word, for all people to be a goal, but also become a reality, so that we, Orthodox Christians, bear witness to the truth of the Gospel. For all people are brothers, regardless of what nation they belong to and how they pray to God and they pray to God in general. We are called to perceive each person as an icon of God, as our neighbor, as our brother and to the whole world to witness the Crucified and Risen Christ as the Carrier of life, as the Source of life, as the Conqueror over every enemy, and usually more over the enemy of man – Satan. Believing in Christ, we are not deprived of perspective and hope, because we are always filled with the fullness of life, the fullness of joy and love here and now, which is a guarantee of what awaits us in eternity – all the saints around Christ, who, together with the angels, sing a truly joyful the song that we sang these days: “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death on death and giving life to those in graves!”

Christ is risen! May the peace and love of God be with all brothers and sisters, Orthodox Christians in Ukraine and with all other people of good will. And to those who are not goodwill, we pray that the Lord would give them goodwill! God’s blessing on everyone!