The following article is reprinted from Dr. Andreja Bogdanovski’s new Substack, Divine Diplomacy. Created in January 2024, it describes itself as a free publication offering timely, in-depth analysis and coverage of (Orthodox) church politics impacting the security and stability of the Balkans, Eastern Europe, Ukraine, Russia and beyond. Orthodoxy in Dialogue recommends it as an important resource for up-to-the-minute news and commentary on church politics in traditionally Orthodox nations.

The Head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine Met. Epifaniy appealed for much-needed unity that would help repel Russia in its efforts to destroy Ukraine’s independence and democracy at the Yalta European Strategy Forum in Kyiv, which took place on the second anniversary of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

[N]ow we need so much unity in our common struggle. After all, we pay a very high price for our state, for democracy, for freedom today…If we allow internal contradictions and quarrels to divide us, then in the future we can pay an even higher price. A million times higher.

Unity is indeed a special glue that binds Ukraine’s society, especially amid the relentless war waged by Vladimir Putin. Ukraine’s President Zelensky has managed to keep the nation together in the most challenging times and instil confidence that Ukraine will be victorious. Read More

For context, see the Metropolitan Joseph: The Scandal section in our archives linked above.

The Patriarchate of Antioch posted the following announcement on its Facebook page on February 28.

Patriarch John of Antioch (centre)

The Synodal Committee formed by His Beatitude Patriarch JOHN X held a meeting to discuss the developments taking place in the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America. This committee consists of Metropolitans: Elias Audé (Beirut), Antonios Souri (Zahlé and Baalbek), Nicolas Baalbaki (Hama), and Athanasius Fahd (Latakia). Its first meeting which took place in Balamand was chaired by His Beatitude and attended by the Metropolitans, members of the Committee. It examined the ecclesiastical transgressions committed by the former Metropolitan of the Archdiocese Joseph Zehlaoui. It decided to hold several meetings for further investigation and deliberation, in order to prepare a detailed report to be submitted to the upcoming Holy Synod meeting on March 13, 2024, where the appropriate decision will be taken. Read More

Our sister blog, Public Orthodoxy, has addressed an open letter to Ecumenical Patrriarch Bartholomew and the global leaders of other Christian churches and denominations, calling on them to “to actively and immediately engage with the appropriate international institutions to facilitate the establishment of an international task force dedicated to holding accountable, through sincere and impartial analysis, those bishops, priests, and laity within the Russian Orthodox Church whose statements, testimonials, sermons, communications, and fabrications have sanctioned and bestowed divine approval upon violence, war, and aggression against the people of Ukraine”—first among the offenders, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow.

Orthodoxy in Dialogue stands with Ukraine and fully supports Public Orthodoxy’s initiative. We urge our readers around the planet to read the open and letter and sign it. You need not be Orthodox to sign.

We address your Excellencies, leaders of the major Christian Churches and confessions, to plead with you. We ask that you publicly address four acute problems that large-scale military conflicts in the modern world pose to all Christians:

• Using religion to justify violence
• Injustice
• Religious nationalism
• Outright lies emanating from church pulpits

These pressing issues are amplified within the context of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. From the very beginning, this conflict took on a distinctive character, in which Russia, a nation primarily identifying itself as Orthodox Christian, invaded Ukraine, another predominantly Christian nation, without any immediate provocation from the side of the latter. Ironically, citizens of both countries were, until recently, affiliated with one and the same Orthodox Church. Read More

Metropolitan Saba (Isper), Primate

Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese

Earlier today, on the official website of the Antiochian Archdiocese, Metropolitan Saba (Isper) published the most courageous statement to come from an American hierarch of any Orthodox jurisdiction in recent memory. We think it no exaggeration to compare His Eminence’s bravery to that of Archbishop Iakovos of thrice-blessed memory when he walked side by side with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., almost sixty years ago. Metropolitan Saba places himself squarely in the crosshairs of the very priests and laypersons under his omophorion whose behaviour toward their Orthodox brothers, sisters, and siblings he decries as the “new Pharisaism.” 

His Eminence leaves little doubt as to whom he has in mind:

There is a negative trend in the Church these days, with certain people criticizing everything. […] The adherents of this trend tend to be aggressive in their attacks and fundamentalist in their opinions, denouncing as heretics all those who disagree with their opinions, views, and citations. Read More