The general assembly of the Lithuanian Orthodox Church, which took place in Vilnius on Tuesday, condemned the war in Ukraine and decided to accelerate the process of gaining more independence from the Moscow Patriarchate.
Attendees of the assembly included clergy, monks and secular representatives of all Lithuanian Orthodox parishes, according to Marija Jakubovskaja, spokeswoman for the Lithuanian Orthodox Church.
The general assembly stated that the Lithuanian Orthodox Church unanimously condemned Russia’s war against Ukraine and expressed full approval of the anti-war stance of its leader, Metropolitan Innokentiy of Vilnius and Lithuania.
“The assembly also confirmed its commitment to pursue greater ecclesiastical independence and appealed to the Holy Synod. Metropolitan Innokentiy earlier asked the Synod to grant the Lithuanian Orthodox Archdiocese the status of a self-governing church,” the Church’s press release said.
The Lithuanian Orthodox Church stressed that it was already in fact “a morally and financially independent religious organisation”.
“At the same time, the Lithuanian Orthodox Church finds it very important not to violate any ecclesiastical canons: the Lithuanian Orthodox Archdiocese unites with the entire Orthodox Church in its fullness through canonical connections with the Moscow Patriarchate. Moreover, the canonical connection does not prevent the autonomy of the Church in any way. Roman Catholics in various countries keep a canonical connection with Vatican, the See of St. Peter in the same way,” the press release said.
Some Lithuanian Orthodox clergymen have come up with an initiative that Lithuanian Orthodox Christians should break away from the Moscow Patriarchate, asking to join the Patriarch of Constantinople.
Metropolitan Innokentiy subsequently unfrocked the four priests in late June, saying they were found guilty of canonical crimes.
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