Serbian Patriarch to UOC Primate: You are a symbol of unity of the Church

Patriarch Porfirije. Photo: ria.ru

On July 28, 2021, on the Day of the Feast of the Holy Blessed Prince Vladimir and the Baptism of Kievan Rus, Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia called the Primate of the UOC, His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine, "a symbol of the unity of the Church."

The address of the Patriarch of Serbia Porfirije was read by his vicar, Bishop Hierofei (Petrovic) of Toplice, at the end of the Divine Liturgy held in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra on the square in front of the Assumption Cathedral.

Congratulating the faithful of the UOC on the Day of Remembrance of Prince Vladimir, The Primate of the Serbian Church noted that the personality of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry is a symbol of the unity of the Church.

"Your personality, our dear Ukrainian brother, who firmly steers the ship of the Ukrainian Church in this very difficult period, has become a symbol of the fidelity and unity of the Orthodox Church in boldly resisting temptations."

Patriarch Porfirije compared Metropolitan Onuphry to Prince Vladimir, stating that "by remaining faithful to the canonical order and unity with the Orthodox Church, you have repeated the choice of Saint Prince Vladimir."

“Therefore, you and your bishops, priesthood, monasticism and laity have become a role model that is also known among our faithful Serbian people,” stressed the Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that Bishop Stefan of Remesiana congratulated the believers of the UOC on the holiday in honor of Saint Prince Vladimir and conveyed greetings from Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia.

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