Metropolitan Barnabas of Neapolis-Stauropolis visits the Serbian Patriarchate

A great friend of the Serbian people and the Serbian Orthodox Church His Eminence Metropolitan Barnabas of Neapolis-Stauropolis arrived to Belgrade on 5 November 2015.

His Grace Vicar Bishop Arsenije of Toplica, with the blessing of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej, welcomed His Eminence at the airport Nikola Tesla. The high guest was escorted by protopresbyters Nicholas Kalaidzides and Leones Ephremides, hierodeacon Panteleimonos Anastasiades, secretary of the Metropolis; personal secretary Mr. Chrysostomos Tiris and priest Aleksandar Pavlovic.

On 6 November 2015, Serbian Patriarch Irinej awarded His Eminence Metropolitan Barnabas with a high distinction of the Serbian Orthodox Church - the order of Saint Emperor Constantine. The Metropolitan received this high order for his love for the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Serbian people, shown particularly by his care for war orphans from Bosnia and Herzegovina during and after the war conflicts in 1990s, supporting Serbian Orthodox holy sites on Kosovo and Metohija as well as for his spiritual care for the Serbian military cemetery at Zeitinlik in Thessaloniki.

On the same day the President of the Republic of Serbia Mr. Tomislav Nikolic received in audience His Eminence Metropolitan Barnabas at the Presidency of Serbia. During warm and friendly talks the President reminded of historical links of the Serbian and Greek peoples as well as of his personal relationship with Greece, where he travels in order to visit Serbian holy sites – Chilandar and Zeitinlik.

On the third day of his visit, on All Soul’s Day, Metropolitan Barnabas served a commemoration rite (panichida) for Serbian Patriarchs Dimitrije and Pavle of blessed repose in the monastery of Rakovica near Belgrade, from where he went on a pilgrimage to the monasteries of Lelic and Celije.

In Valjevo, Bishop Milutin of Valjevo awarded Metropolitan Barnabas of Neapolis and Stauropolis with the order of Saint Bishop Nikolaj of Lelic – the highest order of the Diocese of Valjevo. Metropolitan Barnabas venerated the relics of Saint Nikolaj and Abba Justin at monasteries of Lelic and Celije respectively.