Patriarch of Serbian Church declares his support for the UOC
Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia considers the support of the canonical order and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as evidence of the unity of Orthodoxy.
The Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Porfirije, expressed his support for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and its Primate, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine. A video message from the Head of the SOC with words of support was published on the Youtube channel of the UOC.
Following a meeting with a delegation of the UOC headed by Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich), Chancellor of the UOC, Metropolitan of Boryspil and Brovary, in Belgrade on May 19, 2021, Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia noted the importance of maintaining canonical order in the Church and expressed concern over the situation in Ukraine.
“The canonical order is a condition without which we as Orthodox Christians cannot properly bear witness about our Lord Savior. Therefore, it is very important for us that the canonical order, which is much affected today in Ukraine, be retained. The jurisdiction of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, led by Metropolitan Onuphry, will be supported by our Church to serve as the evidence of the unity among the Orthodox,” said the Primate of the SOC.
As reported by the UOJ, the Serbian Church did not choose the "side" of either Moscow or Phanar, according to Patriarch Porfirije.