Serbian Dean Denounces Archons’ Statement on Pan-Orthodox Advocacy for UOC
Fr. Vasilije Vranic rejects accusations against pan-Orthodox delegation, urges apology for comments he says distort efforts to defend persecuted Ukrainian Orthodox faithful.
NOV. 21, 2025 — The Very Rev. Protopresbyter Vasilije Vranic, Dean of the Washington Deanery of the Eastern American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church, has issued a forceful response to a statement published by the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on Wednesday. The Archons’ text, signed by Commander Anthony J. Limberakis, condemned a recent pan-Orthodox delegation that met with U.S. officials to advocate for the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).
In a statement to the Union of Orthodox Journalists of America, Fr. Vasilije said he read the Archons’ remarks “with shock and incredulity,” calling their accusations misguided and based on fabrications. The delegation — comprising representatives of the Antiochian, Serbian, Greek, OCA, and ROCOR jurisdictions — urged U.S. government leaders to address three core concerns: ending the persecution of UOC clergy and faithful, securing medical care and release for imprisoned clergy and journalists (including Met. Arseny of Sviatohirsk) and ensuring that clergy are not forced to bear arms in violation of international norms.
"One would think that advocacy for these honorable requests would be welcomed universally, let alone by an organization that purports to be the political arm of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in the United States, and by extension the Ecumenical Patriarchate," Fr. Vasilije said. "Yet, the Archons accused their Orthodox brethren of being 'boosters of Putin’s unjust immoral, and monstrous war.' Besides being misguided and based on fabrications, the position of the Archons is quite ironic as well, since the very purpose of the pan-Orthodox delegation was to bring the much needed peace and respite from the terrors of the war to the vast majority of the Orthodox people of Ukraine, who are members of the largest religious group in the country — the Ukrainian Orthodox Church! One is left dumbfounded by the cynicism of the Archons’ statement, which by condemning the requests of the pan-Orthodox group seems to be effectively advocating for the continuation of persecution and suffering in Ukraine."
Fr. Vaslije, who participated in the delegation with the blessing of Bishop Irinej of Washington–New York and Eastern America, rejected the Archons’ characterization as “utterly false.” He stressed that neither he nor his Church supports any geopolitical agenda, emphasizing instead their focus on peace and the immediate alleviation of human suffering — shaped in part, he said, by the Serbian Church’s own experience of fratricidal wars.
"Therefore, in the strongest possible terms I insist that the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate issue an immediate and unconditional apology to the Serbian Orthodox Church and all members of the pan-Orthodox group who advocated for the suffering Orthodox Ukrainians," Fr. Vasilije concluded. "I also insist that the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in no uncertain terms distance itself from the shameful statement of the Archons and censure its Commander for his deeply disrespectful and cynical accusations against representatives of autocephalous Orthodox Churches in America."
The full statement from Fr. Vasilije can be read below:
It is with shock and incredulity that I have read a text published on the official website of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, signed by the Commander of the Order, Anthony J. Limberakis, MD. The text condemns the noble efforts of a pan-Orthodox group advocating for the suffering canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church before the high-ranking members of the government of the United States of America.
The group consisted of representatives of the Antiochian Orthodox Church, Serbian Orthodox Church, Orthodox Church in America, and Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR). The group advocated for three things:
1. Immediate cessation of the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – its clergy and faithful are frequently assaulted, beaten, and mistreated with impunity by members of the state-sponsored Orthodox Church of Ukraine (formed in 2018), while its churches and other property are confiscated.
2. Medical assistance and immediate release of the clergy and faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church who have been falsely accused of treason and imprisoned. Most notably, this includes the long-suffering Metropolitan Arseniy of Svyatogorsk and all journalists.
3. Clergy must not be forced to bear arms and serve as combatants in the hostilities – they can serve as medics and in other unarmed roles. Forcing clergy to bear arms in a war is against U.N. conventions and must be stopped immediately.
One would think that advocacy for these honorable requests would be welcomed universally, let alone by an organization that purports to be the political arm of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in the United States, and by extension the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Yet, the Archons accused their Orthodox brethren of being “boosters of Putin’s unjust immoral, and monstruous war.” Besides being misguided and based on fabrications, the position of the Archons is quite ironic as well, since the very purpose of the pan-Orthodox delegation was to bring the much needed peace and respite from the terrors of the war to the vast majority of the Orthodox people of Ukraine, who are members of the largest religious group in the country – the Ukrainian Orthodox Church! One is left dumbfounded by the cynicism of the Archons’ statement, which by condemning the requests of the pan-Orthodox group seems to be effectively advocating for the continuation of persecution and suffering in Ukraine.
With the blessing of my Bishop, Kyr Irinej of Washington – New York and Eastern America, I was one of the members of the pan-Orthodox group. I, therefore, unequivocally reject as unwarranted, utterly false, and completely misguided the Archons’ characterization of myself and/or my Church as “boosters of Putin’s war.” Our sole purpose has been and always will remain peace and an immediate stop to the suffering of the people of Ukraine. Regrettably, we Serbs have experienced firsthand sufferings of fratricidal wars and thus vehemently oppose such tragedy.
Therefore, in the strongest possible terms I insist that the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate issue an immediate and unconditional apology to the Serbian Orthodox Church and all members of the pan-Orthodox group who advocated for the suffering Orthodox Ukrainians. I also insist that the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in no uncertain terms distance itself from the shameful statement of the Archons and censure its Commander for his deeply disrespectful and cynical accusations against representatives of autocephalous Orthodox Churches in America.
Previously, UOJ reported that Fr. Vasilije had spoken out about comments from U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson and an article published by The Hill which similarly painted the pan-Orthodox delegation as agents of foreign influence.
