Patriarch John of Antioch in the Diocese of Nis

During his historic visit to the Serbian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Patriarch of Antioch and All East John X, accompanied by His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej, visited the city of Nis on October 18, 2018.

A solemn welcome in the church-yard of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit was headed by His Grace Arsenije, Bishop of Nis, with participation of clergy and monastics of the Diocese of Nis, faithful people, members of the Army and Gendarmerie, pupils of the local Theological School and a large number of school children, in presence of mayors of the cities of Nis, Pirot and Prokuplje, and  of the Nis Municipalities, commander of the Army of the city, commander of the Gendarmerie, commander of Police, and other regional and city officials.

Diocesan Bishop Arsenije delivered an address, reminding the high dignitaries that the icon of the Mother of God the Three-Handed was the icon in front of which St. John of Damascus prayed, and which is very much venerated among our Serbian people.

Doxology rite was performed by archimandrite Seraphim, abbot of the Monastery of Sukovo, whereas the famous church choir “Branko” under direction of Mrs Sara Cincarevic performed church hymns.

His Beatitude John expressed his delight that his irenic visit to the sister Serbian Church is being brought to end just in the native city of St. Emperor Constantine. He pointed out that he brought sincere love of the pleroma of the ancient Church of Antioch to the Serbian Church and the Serbian people.

Source: Diocese of Nis