Patriarch Irinej serves Divine Liturgy in Mrkonjici

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch served the Divine Liturgy in Herzegovina's village of Mrkonjici, on the feast of St. Basil of Ostrog with the concelebration of Their Graces Bishops Grigorije of Zahumlje-Herzegovina, retired Atanasije of Herzegovina, Joanikije of Budimlje-Niksic, Fotije of Dalmatia and Maxim of Western America.

The Divine Liturgy in Mrkonjic, in Popovo Polje, along with representatives of the local authorities of municipalities of East Herzegovina, also more than thousand believers  from Herzegovina and neighbouring Montenegrin towns, represetatives of the East Herzegovina municipalities, guests from Serbia, Montenegro and other countries participated.

Retired Bishop Atanasije said that Saint Basil of Ostrog and of Tvrdos is the ambassador of all Saints on Heaven, who with Christ and in Christ showed to people the path towards God.

After the Divine Liturgy, which was attended also by President of Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik, director of the Department for faith of the Republic of Srpska Jovo Turanjanin and advisor to the President of Serbia Mladjen Djordjevic,  His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch awarded the prominent Serbian movie director Emir Kusturica with the Order of St. Sava of the First Degree for the great contribution in preserving cultural values and creatingendowment.

Patriarch Irinej after Mrkonjici visited the monastery of Tvrdos and later in the afternoon went to Niksic. The last day of his first visit to Herzegovina and the Diocese of Zahumlje-Herzegovina and the Littoral he will visit Gacko, Nevesinje and Mostar.

Source: Diocese of Zahumlje-Herzegovina