SOC Patriarch: I know the crisis in Orthodoxy will become a triumph of unity
The Primate of the Serbian Church called on the faithful to view ecclesiastical divisions as a challenge to overcome selfishness and deepen conciliarity.
In an interview with bogoslov.ru, Serbian Patriarch Porfirije shared his vision for overcoming the current divisions in the Orthodox world and expressed his firm belief that today’s inter-Church problems will ultimately lead to the strengthening of Orthodox unity.
“I am convinced that the crisis in which we currently find ourselves as the Orthodox Church will, in the end, become the cause for the triumph of unity, love, mutual understanding, and a living witness to the Church as one, holy, catholic, and apostolic,” said the Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
The Patriarch emphasized that at the root of all Church divisions and misunderstandings lies a clash between two logics: human logic, based on calculations, interests, and rights, and divine logic, grounded in the Gospel and Church tradition.
“Whenever we are faced with problems, challenges, or misunderstandings, and we choose to rely on human logic – or if that logic becomes more important than the logic of Christ and the logic of God – we inevitably head toward dead ends and hopeless situations,” the Serbian Patriarch noted.
In his view, all Church crises and misunderstandings should not be seen as defeats, but rather as opportunities for spiritual growth:
“I see all misunderstandings as temptations, and temptations as challenges. I see crises as opportunities. And today, when we face certain misunderstandings or crises within our Orthodox Church, I see them as chances and a call for each of us to stand before Christ and examine ourselves, our hearts, and our motives.”
As a vivid example of successfully overcoming a schism, the Patriarch cited the Serbian Church’s recent decision to recognize the autocephaly of the Macedonian Church.
“By the grace and love of God, through His providence, a misunderstanding – a schism – has been healed. So now, in the full sense of the word, we have brothers and sisters there,” the Patriarch shared.
He reminded that being an Orthodox Christian is “the greatest blessing in the world,” but it is not a reason for pride or self-exaltation: “Whoever wants to be first must be the servant of all.”
In conclusion, the Primate of the Serbian Church called on Orthodox Christians to embrace the spirit of brotherly love and reconciliation:
“At Pascha we sing a church hymn in which we say: ‘Let us say to all: Christ is Risen! And let us embrace one another. Let us say: Christ is Risen! even to those who hate us.’”
Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Serbian Patriarch explained why he granted autocephaly to the Macedonian Church.
