The Archbishop of Canterbury visiting the Serbian Orthodox Patriarch

His Grace, Lord Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of England, the head of the Anglican Community, arrived in Belgrade on June 2, 2018.

The Church dignitary was accompanied by: The Rt Revd Dr Robert Innes, the Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe;   The Rt Revd Jonathan Goodall, Bishop of Ebbsfleet  - The Church of England’s Lead Bishop for Eastern Orthodox Relations; The Revd Dr William Adam, Archbishop of Canterbury’s Ecumenical Adviser and Ecumenical Officer at the Council for Christian Unity. 

At the Belgrade airport “Nikola Tesla”, His Grace and his entourage were welcomed, on behalf of His Holiness the Serbian Patriarch Irinej, by Very Venerable Archimandrite and Bishop electus of Mohac Isihije (Rogic); deacon Dr. Alexander Prascevic, Head of the Cabinet of His Holiness Patriarch; and Prof. Bogdan Lubardic, a member of the Inter-orthodox Theological Commission for dialogue with the Anglicans.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin, who is visiting the Serbian Orthodox Church for the first time, was also greeted by the ambassador of the United Kingdom in Serbia, Denis Keefe and the Revd Robin Fox, Anglican Chaplain in Belgrade.

The high delegation of the Anglican Church went to the St. Sava church in the Vracar district of Belgrade, where the Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Irinej embraced His Grace Justin and welcomed him and his delegation members warmly. The Christian friendship and hospitality was also expressed by the Most Reverend Porfirije, Metropolitan of Zagreb-Ljubljana; the Very Venerable Archimandrite and Bishop electus of Remesiana Stefan (Saric) and the priesthood attached to St. Sava church as well as by other high Church and state personalities. Official talks were held in the premises of the Parish House of the St. Sava church.

On the same day, His Grace proceeded to Novi Sad, where he will participate in the work of the Assembly of the Conference of European Churches.

Source: Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church