Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill paying irenic visit to the Serbian Orthodox Church
The primate of the Moscow Patriarchate His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill arrived with his delegation by plane at the airport “Nikola Tesla” in Belgrade on Friday, the 14th November 2014, at 10:30 a.m.
The high guest and his delegation were welcomed by the primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church His Holiness Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovac and Serbian Patriarch Irinej with an entourage consisting of the dignitaries of the Serbian Church, among them: His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral; Their Graces Bishops: Lavrentije of Sabac, Nikanor of Banat, Irinej of Backa, Hrizostom of Zvornik-Tuzla, Jovan of Sumadija, Milutin of Valjevo, Teodosije of Raska-Prizren, David of Krusevac, Vicar Bishops Their Graces: Antonije of Moravica and Arsenije of Toplica, as well as lots of priests.
The solemn welcome was attended also by Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Serbia A.V. Chepurin, Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus to Serbia Vladimir N. Chushev and the head of the Representation (Podvorye) of the Russian Orthodox Church to Belgrade protopresbyter Vitaly Tarasyev.
On behalf of the Serbian Government, the high guest was welcomed by Vice President of the Government and Foreign Affairs Minister Ivica Dacic, as well as by Director of the Office for Relations with Churches and Religious Communities Dr. Mileta Radojevic.
The delegation of the sister Russian Orthodox Church, beside His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, consists of: His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Office for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate (DECR); Bishop Sergiy of Solnechnogorsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Administrative Secretariat; protopresbyters: Nikolay Balashov, DECR Vice-chairman ; Igor Jakimchuk, DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations; Andrei Milkin, chief of the Patriarchal Protocol Service; as well as protodeacon Vladimir Nazarkin, Assistant to the President of the DECR; deacon Alexandar Volkov, head of the Patriarchal Press Service; and Mr. Vladimir Legoida, chairman of the Synodal Information Department of the Moscow Patriarchate.
After the welcome at the airport runway, two Primates of the Churches with members of their delegations, as well as the highest state officials, went to the VIP lounge at the airport, and after that they gave statements to mass media.
His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej emphasized that the visit of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow represents for us a great spiritual joy. Our views and our hopes have been always oriented to the imperial Russia, Patriarch Irinej pointed out, also noting that this was also a irenic visit, namely, when a new-elected head of a local Church is elected to the throne of hat Church, he is supposed to visit primates of other sister Churches.
In his response the Primate of the Russian Church said:
“Thank you, Your Holiness, for the kind words with which you have met me at the Belgrade airport. I would like to express the feeling of great and sincere joy when I as Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia step into this land so dear for the Russian heart.
“When a Russian comes to Serbia, he feels really at home. The common faith, culture and very close historical ties, the same blood which has been shed for common victories – all this bounds up our peoples. And these are not just words that we use when talking to each other. These words express our historical, spiritual and cultural reality.
“Our community is based on a common faith, common system of moral values, and love of our native land, people and neighbours. This is what creates our affinity. And the Church is called to help people to unite, to preserve peace, and in this sense, visits of primatess of Orthodox Churches to each other have a great importance for both the two Churches and the peoples who are part of these Churches.
“I hope that our joint prayers and talks will help us to go forward with ever greater confidence, reaching out to each other and opening our hearts.
I would like to wish peace, prosperity and tranquility to the Serbian Orthodox Church, to the Serbian people and to the Serbian state”.
After arrival to the Serbian Patriarchate the high delegations had short conversation, and at noon the doxology and the service of thanksgiving was officiated.
