Patriarch Irinej: St. Sava led us on the way to God

It is a very rare event that Serbian Patriarch visits some place. That Blessing and that happiness East Bosnia has these days. Upon the invitation of His Eminence Metropolitan Nikolaj, His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch accepted the invitation joyfully to visit this diocese. After Dobrun monastery on Thursday Patriarch Irinej visited also Foca, where he came to enhance the Patron Saint's Day of the Faculty of Theology "St. Basil of Ostrog" in Foca, and in this way to see students and theologians of the Seminary of St. Peter of Dabrobosna.

Patriarch Irinej on this occasion served the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy regarding Patron Saint's Day of the Faculty of Theology, St. Basil of Ostrog. He came to Foca from Dobrun Monastery near Visegrad accompanied by Metropolitan Nikolaj of Dabrobosna, bishops: Nikanor of Banat, Lukijan of Osek-Polje and Antonije of Moravica, and they were welcomed by many monks, priests and people of this place.

The Patriarch was welcomed, on behalf of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology which has been workink since 1994, by dean Boris Brajovic, who pointed out that Patriarch's visit is the greatest event not only for Foca, but for whole Republic of Srpska. The Patriarch, then, served the Divine Liturgy in the church, built within the premises of this Faculty, with concelebration of many bishops and priests of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

After the procession around the church, Serbian Patriarch Irinej cut the slava cake. During his visit to the Republic of Srpska and Foca His Holiness blessed the beginning of the works on the reconstruction of the building, which was bought for the purposes of the Faculty of Theology by the Government of the Republic of Srpska.

Addressing the present Minister of education and culture of the Republic of Srpska, Anton Kasipovic said that this building was the house of knowledge, science and good intention, expressing also a determination of the Government of Srpska to commit additional efforts in order to all works on the reconstruction to be completed on time, until October 1 of this year.Accompanied by more than a thousand citizens of Foca and believers from other places of the Republic of Srpska, Serbia and Montenegro, Patriarch visited a church in construction devoted to St. Sava and was pleasantly surprised with dynamics of the works, then he signed a dedication on the Gospel in the church. Folowing that he attended an Academy specially prepared for this occasion, and later at the table of love, Patriarch received the Charter of the town of Foca.

Many eminent people were present at this event, including the President of the Republic of Srpska Mr. Milorad Dodik. 

Speaking to Patriarch President Dodik informed him that the authorities of the Republic of Srpska have great cooperation with the SOC and consider that it was crucial to strengthen the Church, because it was one of the most important elements of the Serbian Orthodox identity.

Source: Metropolitanate of Dabrobosna