Anglican community in Belgrade celebrates Christmas

The Anglican community of St. Mary in Belgrade, which holds regular services in the chapel at Visegradska Street, traditionally celebrated Christmas with a festal mass in the chapel of St. Symeon atg the Serbian Patriarchate on the Eve of the feast-day on 24 December 2016.

The service was presided over by Chaplain Rev. Robin Fox with the chanting of believers, among which there was Mr. Michael Davenport, Head of the European Union Delegation in Serbia, members of the diplomatic representations in Belgrade, as well as some members of the Lutheran Church.

On behalf of His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, the solemn Christmas mass was attended by His Grace Bishop Arsenije of Toplica, Vicar of the Serbian Patriarch.

The service was attended also by protodeacons Radomir Rakic, editor-in-chief of the Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and Stevan Rapajic, Secretary of the Diocese of Church Court, as well as by deacons Aleksandar Prascevic, officer of the Holy Synod of Bishops at the Department for Inter-Orthodox and Inter-Confessional Relations, and Dragan Tanasijevic, the official photographer of the Information Service.

Professor Dr. Bogdan Lubardic, member of the International Pan-Orhodox Commission for Anglican-Orthodox Theological Dialogue, was present as well.

After the sermon delivered by Chaplain Fr. Robin Fox, who thanked His Holiness Patriarch for the blessing that also this year this chapel of Saint Simeon at the Serbian Patriarchate might be used, His Grace Bishop Arsenije addressed the present on behalf of the Serbian Patriarch as well as on his own behalf.