Serbian Patriarch meets with The Prince of Wales (photo)

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, received His Royal Highness Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales at the Serbian Patriarchate in Belgrade on 16 March 2016.

Serbian Patriarch visited the Greek College of Saint Andrew the First-Called

The delegation of the Serbian Orthodox Church led by His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, visited the Greek Orthodox Theological College “Saint Andrew the First-called” in Sidney on 11 March 2016.

In the church dedicated to the feast-day of the Annunciation, the high guest from Serbia was welcomed by pious Greek people. The host of the meeting was His Eminence Archbishop Dr. Stilianos of Australia and His Grace Bishop Seraphimos of Apollonia, who cordially welcomed brothers in Christ from Serbia.

The Beginning of Great Lent

The doors of repentance are opening, Great Lent is beginning. Every year Great Lent is repeated, and each time it brings us great benefit if we spend it as we should. It is a preparation for the life to come and, more immediately, a preparation for the Bright Resurrection.

Just as a stairway is built into a tall building in order to enable one, by climbing the steps, to easily reach the top, so too, the various days in the year serve as steps for our spiritual ascent.

This is especially true of the days of Great Lent and Holy Pascha.

Many meetings in Melbourne, Adelaide and Sidney

The Patriarch visited the Saint Athanasius Coptic Theological College. Visits to churches in Adelaide and the skete of the Holy Mother of God in Inglewood. Serbian Patriarch in Sidney. The visit to the parish on the Central Coast. Welcome at Greek monasteries.

Serbian Patriarch Irinej, accompanied by Metropolitan Amfilohije and Bishop Irinej of Australia and New Zealand, visited the Saint Athanasius Coptic Theological College (SACOTC) in Donvale on 8 March 2016. Serbian Patriarch Irinej held a lecture on the topic of the role of the Church in modern trends to attending representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, the native – Coptic Church, professors and lecturers at this College, which are in the same time eminent representatives of the University in Melbourne.

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic receives prize at the IFUOCN-2016 award ceremony

On 9 March 2016, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia officiated at the 16^th annual ceremony of awarding the prize of the International Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations (IFUOCN) “For the Outstanding Activity in Strengthening Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations and for Consolidation and Promotion of Christian Values in the Life of Society” named after His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II. The ceremony took place in the Hall of Church Councils of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.

Prizes were awarded to His Holiness Patriarch Neofit of Bulgaria; President Tomislav Nikolic of the Republic of Serbia; and Mr. Sergei Naryshkin, chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić

On 9 March 2016, a meeting between His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and Mr. Tomislav Nikolić, President of Serbia, took place at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow.

The head of Serbia was accompanied by Mr. Ivan Mrkić, Adviser to the President; Mr. Slavenko Terzić, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Serbia to the Russian Federation; and Mrs. Dragica Nikolić, spouse of the President.