Metropolitan Hilarion visits Serbian Patriarchate
His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Department for the External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, paid a visit to the Serbian Patriarchate in Belgrade on August 25th, 2014.
High representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church were welcomed at the airport by His Grace Bishop Jovan of Lipljan, Vicar of Serbian Patriarch, and protopresbyter Vitaly Tarasyev, head of the Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate in Belgrade.
On Tuesday, August 26th, upon the invitation of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej and the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk visited the Serbian Patriarchate and met with the members of the Holy Synod.
Besides the members of the Holy Synod, Their Graces Bishop Irinej of Backa and Ignatije of Branicevo also participated in the talks. Protopresbyter-stavrophor Savo Jovic, chief secretary of the Holy Synod of Bishops; protopresbyter Vitaly Tarasyev, head of the Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate in Belgrade; and monk Stefan (Igumanov), secretary for Inter-Christian relations of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, were present at the meeting.
During the cordial talks a forthcoming irenic visit of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to the Serbian Orthodox Church was taken into deliberation. The discussion also focused especially on issues of the Inter-Orthodox cooperation and inter-Christian relations, as well as on other issues of interest for two sister local Orthodox Churches.
The talks informally continued during a solemn agape meal prepared especially for the high representative of the Moscow Patriarchate.
In late afternoon hours the beloved guest was escorted to the airport by His Grace Bishop Irinej of the Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand and protopresbyter Vitaly Tarasyev.
