Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria used harsh words and did not make any concessions to Serbian Patriarch Porfiry about his selective sensitivity to what was happening in the Orthodox world – Russian intervention in Africa went unnoticed, unlike the Russian invasion of Ukraine. On July 22, Serbian Patriarch Porfiry sent a letter to Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria, asking him to take action to release the former abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery, Metropolitan Pavel Vyshgorodsky, “The Orthodox Times” reports. The Serbian Patriarch considers the decision of the Ukrainian justice, on the one hand, “a fruit of the tense atmosphere in Ukraine, which is engulfed in the flames of war”, and on the other, “a result of the intention of the current authorities to occupy the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra (monastery )”.
In the response letter published today, the Patriarch of Alexandria, after stressing that the Patriarchate unreservedly supports the protection of human rights, is quick to “remind” the Serbian Patriarch that he has in no way shown the same sensitivity to the thousands of Orthodox Christians in Africa who are “spiritually poisoned by the Moscow Patriarchate with the predatory and brazen invasion of a parish that is geographically, pastorally and spiritually under the jurisdiction of the Alexandrian Patriarchate”.
Patriarch Theodore also emphasizes that in his letter, the Serbian Patriarch mentions Ukraine “which is engulfed in flames” without naming the culprit of this aggressive war against the Orthodox people. “Our Russian Orthodox brothers are knowingly tearing apart the seamless garment of Jesus Christ by pouring poison into the Second See Church of Alexandria, which has benefited the Russian Church by strengthening its autocephalous status,” the Patriarch of Alexandria stated. “We note with regret that in view of this completely unjust, anti-Church and anti-canonical act, you do not show the same sensitivity as in the case of Metropolitan Pavel Vyshgorodsky of the Moscow Patriarchate. You remain silent despite my repeated appeals, which affect not just one person, but thousands African Orthodox,” adds Patriarch Theodore. He stated that he expects from the Serbian Patriarch the same sensitivity that he showed to Metropolitan Pavel, and therefore to condemn the anti-canonical and anti-Christian actions of the Russian Church
