The upcoming issue of The Wheel is devoted to the topic of conscience in the Orthodox context. Among other subjects, it deals with the issue of academic freedom. It is no secret that in the recent years there have been increasing attempts to suppress this freedom in various Orthodox jurisdictions. From disciplining or upbraiding Orthodox scholars for taking part in conferences on gender and sexuality to disinviting prominent speakers for expressing controversial opinions to the non-renewal of teaching contracts to outright dismissals from academic positions, the Church officials are signaling their intention to suppress and silence academic discourse on challenging issues, both theological and cultural. Sadly, they are succeeding in many places.

In light of this, The Wheel feels it imperative to feature some of the stories that we become aware of. Unfortunately, the climate of suppression is creating a situation that in many instances people are afraid to speak out. We are grateful to our Advisory Board Member, Dr. Pantelis Kalaitzidis, for bringing the case of Father Vukašin Milićević to our attention.

If you wish to sign the petition in support of Father Milićević please fill out the form in this link.

Introductory Letter by Pantelis Kalaitzidis

Dear Colleagues, Christ is Risen!

I trust you are doing well and safe in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

On the occasion of this communication I would like to bring to your attention the following quite serious issue.

I don’t know if you are aware of a recent development in Serbia, a traditional Orthodox country, with regards to Prof. Fr. Vukašin Milićević, Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Belgrade, who has regretfully been recently sentenced, after his public appearance in which he challenged some of the measures that the Serbian Church has taken in fighting pandemic of COVID-19. This is not the first case that a University professor of Theology in Serbia is being sentenced because he expressed views different to the official Church statements, although he reflected on issues of strict academic or scientific character. In contrast, there are strong indications that, as a further consequence, after tenured professor Bishop Maxim Vasiljević and assistant professor Marko Vilotić (due to their support to the need of evolution theory to be taught to schools in the framework of the Biology class), Fr. Vukašin might be the next one to whom a synodal blessing to teach at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Belgrade, will be denied (please refer to the e-mail below for detailed information).

As a result, some days ago we received an International academic theologians’ appeal to His Holiness Patriarch Irinej, by which an attempt is made to provide a strong theological support from all around the world.

As eminent University Professors, researchers and academic staff of leading and quite influential theological faculties, institutions and academic organizations from all around the world, whose mission is to advance the quality and the openness of theological (Orthodox included) scholarship worldwide, I thought that it might be the proper time for you not only to express individually a clear support, but also to disseminate the relative International academic theologians’ appeal to His Holiness Irinej, Patriarch of Serbian Orthodox Church, to affirm the freedom of academic thought. As you clearly realize, academic freedom has still not to be taken for granted in several traditional Orthodox university contexts, a critical reality that invites all of us who more or less share the same premises and commitment to academic and religious freedom to take a clear and positive position. I am pretty sure that in the midst of the unpredictable reality we all Christians (and humanity as a whole) face today as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, you share our common concern not to remain neutral against this sort of developments that seek to censor academic freedom.

Apart from any personal reservations, the ultimate good endangered in this case is academic freedom of theologians. We may be lucky in our homeland and we have not faced such problems yet. But clouds are getting thicker in the Orthodox world: Russia, Romania, Serbia… Who's next?

With Paschal wishes, and my kindest regards in Christ,

Dr. Pantelis Kalaitzidis,
Director, Volos Academy for Theological Studies
Lecturer, Hellenic Open University
Member of the Executive Committee of the European Academy of Religion

Letter by the Vladan Perisic, University of Belgrade

Dear Colleagues,

We invite you to support the International academic theologians’ appeal to His Holiness Irinej, Patriarch of Serbian Orthodox Church, to affirm the freedom of academic thought. His Holiness has regretfully recently sentenced Fr. Vukašin Milićević, assistant professor of systematic theology at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Belgrade, after his several public appearances in which he challenged some of the measures that the Serbian Church has taken in fighting pandemic of COVID-19.

Responding to the latest crisis, caused by the pandemic of COVID-19, Fr. Vukašin questioned the statement of the Holy Standing Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church proclaiming the continuation with the traditional way of delivering holy communion to the faithful – from a shared spoon. Referring to the decisions made by other Orthodox Churches, such as Romanian and Russian, he proposed that, in response to the pandemic, Serbian Church should also alter the usual way of delivering communion and resort either to other traditional practices (such as faithful receiving it in the hand) or to using single-use spoons.

After his appearance in the popular TV talk-show Utisak nedelje (Impression of the Week) Fr. Vukašin was sentenced by His Holiness Patriarch Irinej. Without previous hearing, he was banned from service for an indefinite period, although according to the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church both punishment without hearing and one exceeding the time limit of 30 days cannot be issued by a bishop alone. He is charged with several charges such as: speaking publicly without the approval of the Church authorities, putting his own opinion above ‘the mind of the Church’, disregarding the authority of the Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition etc. According to the same document, Fr. Vukašin is facing trial at the Ecclesiastical Court of the Belgrade-Karlovci Archdiocese, facing possibly even greater consequences, not excluding defrocking.

Moreover, there are strong indications that, as a further consequence, after tenured professor Bishop Maxim Vasiljević and assistant professor Marko Vilotić, Fr. Vukašin might be the next one to whom a synodal blessing to teach at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Belgrade, will be denied.

If you wish to sign this petition please fill out the form in this link. Please refer to the attached document for more details on Fr. Vukašin and the background to this case.

The Case of Father Vukašin Milićević

Fr Vukašin Milićević was born on September 25, 1982 in Belgrade (Serbia). He graduated at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Belgrade in 2005, defending his bachelor’s thesis titled Notion of Theology in St John Damascene and Thomas Aquinas. He finished his master’s studies at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, in 2010, his thesis being Negotiations between Monk Joasaph (John) Kantakouzenos and Papal Delegate Paul Regarding the Convocation of the Ecumenical Council. Fr Vukašin finished his doctoral studies at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Belgrade, in 2018, with his doctoral thesis titled Aspects of the Aspects of the Problem of Time According to St Maximus the Confessor.

In 2012 Milićević became a teaching assistant at the department of Systematic Theology, at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Belgrade. He taught various subjects such as Introduction to Theology, Christian Ethics and Christian Anthropology. Before that, he held various positions in the Serbian Orthodox Church. He was involved in the charitable organization of the Serbian Church called Versko dobrotvorno starateljstvo (2007), worked at the Ecclesiastical Court of the Belgrade-Karlovci Archdiocese (2007- 2012), he was a program director for the church radio Slovo ljubve (2009-2017). In 2007 he was ordained a deacon and soon afterwards ordained a priest. He served as a priest at the University chapel at the students campus (2007-2011), as a parish priest he served at the Church of St Basil of Ostrog (2011- 2015) and Church of St Sava (2015-2017). He has three children.

In 2017 Fr Vukašin was one of 12 orthodox theologians, teaching at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology (University of Belgrade), who released a public statement opposing the petition that was released by a group of more than 50 academicians and 100 additional people to “revise the curriculum for study of evolution” in Serbia. The petition requested that the theory of evolution be taught on all educational levels as a ‘mere theory’ and an alternative ‘theory of creation’ be taught alongside it in science classrooms. In the statement signed by theologians it was argued, among other things, that there any scientific theory needs to be based on the scientific facts and not on a (literal) reading of Bible. It was also stated that science and theology are not necessarily conflicted and that the autonomy of scientific disciplines needs to be obtained. While the statement was widely applauded by the scientific community it was met with harsh criticism among many members of higher Church hierarchy of the Serbian Orthodox Church. In reaction to the statement His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia issued a decree prohibiting public appearances to all members of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology. Also, as a consequence, Fr Vukašin was deprived of his parish and position of the programm director of church radio Slovo ljubve. He was also asked by the Holy Synod to apologize and withdraw his signature from the mentioned statement which he declined offering an explanation of his position instead.

Being one of the most prominent Serbian theologians of younger generations he held many public lectures and made numerous media appearances which include articles, essays and interviews in major Serbian daily newspapers and weekly magazines, and appearances in popular TV talk-shows. He has always openly stated his opinion on current challenges facing church and society, offering educated and well-founded theological perspective on various matters. More often than not he offered different but not necessarily contradicting opinion from those stated in official releases of Church bodies. Always speaking with much care and respect for the Church officials, however, he has often challenged some of their statements and decisions. Responding to the latest crisis, caused by the pandemic of COVID-19, Fr Vukašin questioned the satement of the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church to proceed with the traditional way of delievering holy communion to the faithful – via common spoon. Refering to decisions made by other Orthodox Churches, such as Romanian and Russian, he proposed that in response to pandemic Serbian Church should also alter the usual way of delivering communion and resort either to other traditional ways (such as faithful having it received on their hand) or using individual single-use spoons. After his apperance in a popular TV talk-show Utisak nedelje (Weekly Impression) Fr Vukašin was sanctioned by His Holiness Patriarch Irinej. Without previous hearing, he was punished by not being allowed to celebrate divine liturgy for an indefinite period, although according to the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church both punishment without hearing and one exceeding time limit of 30 days cannot be issued by the bishop alone. He is charged with several charges, speaking publicly without approval of Church authorities, putting his own opinion above ‘mind of the Church’, disregarding authority of the Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition etc. According to the same document, Fr Vukašin is facing trial at the Ecclesiastical Court of the Belgrade-Karlovci Archdiocese, facing possibly even greater consequences, not excluding defrocking.