Metropolitan of Vinnytsia and Barsk Varsonofiy (Joiner), on the air of the Serbian Orthodox TV channel “Temple”, thanked the SOC for its position on the “Ukrainian issue” and support of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The interview with the bishop was published on Tuesday, June 1.
The hierarch of the UOC noted that the Serbian Orthodox Church from the very beginning clearly outlined its position regarding the interference of Constantinople in the Ukrainian church issue.
“A special position was at that time, in 2018, of the late His Holiness Patriarch Irenaeus, who, when meeting in Moscow with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, unambiguously stated: it is impossible for Constantinople to interfere in the territory of the Russian Orthodox Church. Moreover, the position on the “hierarchs” who have not received a legal consecration, that they cannot be hierarchs in any way,” said Metropolitan Barsanuphius.
The hierarch of the UOC expressed gratitude to both the late Patriarch Irenaeus, and the current Primate of the SOC, His Holiness Patriarch Porfiry, as well as “to all the hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Serbian people, who support us prayerfully and in words.”