Archbishop Jovan of Ohrid wished the faithful of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church to perceive the current situation as a kind of test.

The hierarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Archbishop of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skopje Jovan (Vraniskovski) believes that the schism in Ukraine, which was aggravated by the intervention of the Patriarch of Constantinople, is a test for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to be followed by a better period it Her life. He said this in an interview with RIA Novosti.

“I would like to wish the Orthodox Christians in Ukraine to view the current situation as a kind of test,” said Archbishop Jovan of Ohrid. I think that a better period will come after this period of trials in the life of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. As St. Athanasius the Great said many centuries ago, this is a small cloud, it will soon dissipate.” He noted that it is very difficult for him to take in the developments around the UOC, as he believes that the Unity of the Church should be protected like the apple of an eye.

The SOC hierarch expressed concern that the situation similar to that in Ukraine could recur in any other place. “We cannot predict if this problem will arise elsewhere. This is not an issue of the status of a particular bishop, i.e. what place he will take, but a dogmatic problem that obliges us to take the right position,” said the Archbishop of Ohrid and added that the Serbian Church prays that the Lord will enlighten us so that “we could approach the issue on the merits when considering it.”

As reported by the UOJ, the hierarch of the Serbian Church believes that Phanar is not competent to resolve inter-church disputes.