Patriarch Irinej of Serbia: Temptation has befallen Patriarch Bartholomew

His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia

The Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Patriarch Irinej, condemned the Phanar’s decision to grant autocephaly to the schismatic Churches of the UOC KP and the UAOC, reports the “Hram” TV channel of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

“I believe that all the Churches will indicate how catastrophic this decision is, in order to avoid the most catastrophic Church division,” he said, expressing his firm hope.

“Our Church is in a great temptation today,” the Serbian Primate said. “A temptation that has befallen our first hierarch, the Ecumenical Patriarch: to make a decision that could be catastrophic for the Church—to do something that he has no right to do—to recognize a schismatic church, and even give it autocephaly.”

The Ecumenical Patriarchate has made an unprecedented decision it has no right to make, said His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia, commenting on the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s official recognition of the schismatics in Ukraine.

Patriarch Irinej also emphasized that such a move is totally unprecedented.

“I believe that all the Churches will indicate how catastrophic this decision is, in order to avoid the most catastrophic Church division,” he said, expressing his firm hope.

On October 11, 2018, the Synod of the Patriarch of Constantinople returned the canonical status to the heads of schismatic organizations of the UOC KP and the UAOC and restored its metropolis in Kiev.

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