Patriarch Porfirije receives in audience a DECR representative and a delegation of the Foundation for the Support of Christian Culture and Heritage

On December 6, 2021, His Holiness Porfirije, Serbian Patriarch received in audience the vice-chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Archpriest Nikolay Balashov, and a delegation of the Foundation for Support of Christin Culture and Heritage led by Mr. E. I. Skopenko, executive director of the foundation.

Archpriest Nikolay Balashov conveyed to the Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church greetings and best wishes from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and the DECR chairman Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk. In a warm atmosphere, they discussed the state and development of relations between the Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches in the sphere of culture and education and a possible participation of the foundation in the projects of the Serbian Orthodox Church aimed to preserve the cultural heritage.

They were joined in their discussion by Bishop Photije of Zvornik-Tuzla, Bishop Sava, vicar of the Patriarch of Serbia; Archpriest Vitaliy Tarasjev, rector of the Belgrade Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church; Mr. A. Yu. Khoshev, DECR secretariat for inter-Orthodox relations; and staff members of the foundation. 

On the same day, Archpriest Nikolay Balashov and Mr. Ye. I. Skopenko met with Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Serbia, Mr. A. A. Botsan-Kharchenko.