His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew arrives in Belgrade

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew arrived today, on 4 October 2013, on the occasion of the Central celebration of the 1700th anniversary of the Edict of Milan. 

Ecumenical Patriarch was welcomed at the runway of the Belgrade´s airport Nikola Tesla by His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch; Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Mr. Ivan Mrkic and Ambassador of Greece to Belgrade Mr. Konstantinos Ikonomidis. 

In our country His All-Holiness came with his delegation consisting of Archimanrite Bartholomew Samaras, Chief Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Mr. Symeon Frandzelas. His Eminence Metropolitan John of Pergam will arrive in Belgrade in the afternoon, while His Eminence Metropolitan Emanuel of France arrived in Belgrade yesterday. 

According to the traditionional custom, children dressed in Serbian national costume welcomed His All-Holiness Bartholomew with bread and salt, and also gave him a a bouquet of flowers. At the hall of the airport  His All-Holiness was welcomed by a row of clergy of the Archbishopric of Belgrade-Karlovac, and he was also greeted by Their Graces Bishop Jovan of Sumadija, Ignatije of Branicevo, Teodosije of Raska-Prizren, Irinej of Australia-New Zealand, Porfirije of Jegar, Antonije of Moravica and Andrej of Remesiana, and Dr Mileta Radojevic, Director of the Office for Cooperation with traditional Churches and religious communities.

On this occasion His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej addressed many gathered representatives of media.