Виленско-литовская епархия

A communiqué published on February 17th on the website of the Patriarchate of Constantinople states that the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople, on the recommendation of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, "restored" clergymen expelled from the priesthood to their “former ecclesiastical rank of priesthood”. At the same time, the Patriarch of Constantinople received these clergymen under His omophorion.

The Lithuanian Orthodox Archdiocese does not recognize this decision. Deposition from the priesthood is not a disciplinary but, rather, a mystical act, it is ultimate and irrevocable. According to the canons of the Church, clerics who have been expelled from the priesthood are not eligible for restoration or ordination. Thus, the dismissed clergymen Vladimir Selyavko, Vitalijus Mockus, Vitalijus Dauparas, Gintaras Sungaila, and Georgijus Ananjevas are laymen and will remain so even though they dare to wear liturgical garments and perform the sacraments. A person dismissed from the clerical state has no power to celebrate the sacraments.

It looks as though the information received by His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew is neither complete and reliable, nor objective. Otherwise, how can one explain the statement in the Communiqué that “the reasons for which the penalties were imposed do not at all derive from ecclesiastical criteria, but from the justified opposition of these clergymen to the war in Ukraine”. This assertion is not true. 

The Lithuanian Orthodox Archdiocese has constantly emphasized that the Ecclesiastical Court considered the deeds of the aforementioned clerics exclusively within the framework of ecclesiastical law. Their anti-war stance had no effect on the decision. Moreover, the position of the former clergymen toward the war in Ukraine in no way differs from the position of  the Lithuanian Orthodox Church. The former clerics know very well that the Lithuanian Orthodox Church condemned the aggression and the war against Ukraine from the very day after its beginning - on February 25th, 2022.

Metropolitan Innokenty condemned the war and expressed disagreement with the position of Patriarch Kyrill in his official statements made in March and April of last year. These statements were noticed throughout the Orthodox world. At the same time, the ecclesiastical trial of the clerics took place much later, in late June 2022.

The attack on Ukraine was condemned at all levels – by the church hierarchy, by the clergy and by the laity. Relevant statements, signed by thousands of Orthodox believers, were submitted to the President of Lithuania. Full support for the position of the Archdiocese was also expressed by the General Assembly of the Lithuanian Orthodox Church.

The former clerics were expelled from the priesthood for committing a number of grave ecclesiastical crimes. Their activities were examined in detail by the Ecclesiastical Court, which confirmed the facts of transgression of the priestly oath and perjury (canon 25 of the Holy Apostles), disobedience to the ruling hierarch and conducting public activities without the blessing of their bishop (canon 39 of the Holy Apostles), collusion against their bishop and fellow clergy as well as the destruction of ecclesiastical peace (canon 18 of the 4th Ecumenical Council and canons 34 of the 5th/6th Council in Trullo), schismatic activity, intending and organising transfers to another church jurisdiction without the blessing of their bishop (canon 16 of the 1st  Ecumenical Council), and their participation in a campaign to discredit the Church and its bishops (canon 55 of the Holy Apostles), as well as fellow clergy. Each of the items on this list is witnessed by specific actions and public statements of the former clerics, as well as by various testimonies. 

The Lithuanian Orthodox Church prays daily for the end of the war in Ukraine, as well as for the well-being of Lithuania, its people, authorities and military.