On April 27, 2022, a talk took place between His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia through remote video communication.
Participating in the talk from the Russian Orthodox Church were also Metropolitan Hilarion, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations (DECR), and Archpriest Nikolay Balashov, DECR vice-chairman.
From the Serbian Church, there also was Bishop Irinej of Bačka.
The Primates of the two Churches exchanged Paschal greetings and cordial acclamations of the Bright Resurrection of Christ.
During a prolonged brotherly talk, they discussed the events going on in Ukraine. Special attention was given to the humanitarian situation in Donbass. Patriarch Kirill thanked the Patriarch of Serbia for the support and solidarity of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church. “There is the firm belief that in this grave time the Serbian Church is with us”, His Holiness said.
In particular, he noted with gratitude the church aid to refugees from Ukraine coming to the country spiritually nourished by the Patriarch of Serbia. He mentioned specially the fundraising organized in Serbian churches with a blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije to be then conveyed to the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church and her Primate, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry.
In the course of the talk, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia asked his interlocutor to convey words of gratitude to President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić for the help that the Serbian state gives to Ukrainian refugees.
Important attention was given in the talk to the situation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church: His Holiness Patriarch Kirill informed His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije about the grave situation of the canonical Church, the oppression to which she is subjected. “I bow my head before the feat of our clergy”, he said.
His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije said that the events in Ukraine directly touched his heart and the hearts of fellow-bishops and all the Orthodox Serbian people who also endured hard trials in the end of the 20th century. “We share your feelings and pray for you and ready to do all that is possible to support the Russian Orthodox Church and the faithful people in Russia and in Ukraine”, said the Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
He also informed Patriarch Kirill about topical events in the church life of the Patriarchate of Serbia. A discussion followed about the situation in the world Orthodoxy and in the sphere of inter-Orthodox relations.
They agreed to continue brotherly communication in various formats.
