President of the State Duma of the Russian Federation S.E. Narishkin meets with Patriarch Irinej
President of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation S.E. Narishkin met with His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej in Moscow yesterday, on 23 July 2013.
During the talks there were also present: dean of the Representation of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Moscow Bishop Antonije of Moravica, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the Russian Federation Mr. Slavenko Terzic, deputy director of the Department of the External Church Relations protopresbyter Nikolai Balashov, dean of the Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate in Belgrade protopresbyter Vitaliy Tarasyev, chairmain of the Committee on the issues of the social associations and religious organizations of the State Duma of the Russian Federation J.E. Nilov and other high personalities.
S.E. Narishkin warmly welcomed the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church and pointed out the significance of the visit of His Holiness to the Russian Orthodox Church. During the talks they discussed about position of Orthodox shrines and Serbian communities on Kosovo and Metohija, as well as about forthcoming significant historical date – the 100th anniversary of the First World War.
Both sides stressed the importance of the integration of efforts of Russian and Serbian scientists regarding the issue of research and popularization of the history of the First World War. S.E. Narishkin thanked His Holiness for his advocating for the Russian cemetery in Belgrade – the greatest place in Europe where the Russian soldiers who fought in the First World War for the freedom of the peoples of the Balkans, repose.
Patriarch Irinej talked about the tragic position of Orthodox believers who stayed on Kosovo and Metohija, and also about those who left their homes and became refugees during the war conflict in 1999 and the anti-Serbian pogrom in 2004. The head of the Serbian Church thanked the Russian state leadership for their support for the position of Serbia regarding the Kosovo issue and expressed hope that one would reach a just solution.
S.E. Narishkin pointed out the significance of the Orthodoxy, and as well as the Slavic literacy and culture, as one common denominator of the Russian and Serbian people.
Source: Moscow Patriarchate
