Serbian Patriarch Irinej consecrated a new church in Berne
His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, during his canonical visit to the Diocese of Austria-Switzerland, consecrated a new church dedicated to Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Berne, and had an opportunity to visit several Church and state representatives, on 3rd September 2018.
At the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia, His Holiness Irinej was received by Dr. Snezana Jankovic, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbian to Switzerland, who informed the Patriarch on the status of the Serbian community in this country, about activities of the Embassy in preserving national and cultural identity, which is evident in organizing a Serbian Sunday school for children and very frequent cultural manifestations. The Serbian Patriarch thanked Mrs. Jankovic for all that the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia had been doing while supporting mission of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Switzerland and the position of the Serbian people.
In the Old-Catholic Cathedral (Christ-katholische Kathedrale) of Saints Peter and Paul in Berne a solemn welcome was arranged by Bishop Dr. Harald Rein, who expressed his welcome to His Holiness Patriarch in Switzerland and reminded of long-lasting close connections of the Old Catholic Church (Christ-katholische Kirche) and the Serbian Orthdoox Church. Afterwards, Professor emeritus of the the Christ-Catholic Faculty, Dr. Urs von Arx, talked about student days in Berne of Bishop Nikolaj of Zica and Ohrid and about the links which the Old Catholic Church had been fostering with all the local Orthodox Churches, and especially with the Serbian Orthodox Church. Namely, some 46 Serbian students had been studying theology at the University of Berne within the last century and a half. These deep connections is symbolized by a special memory plaque in the Old Catholic Cathedral dedicated to Saint Bishop Nikolaj and his student days Berne. It was a prayerful moment and the troparion to Holy Bishop Nikolaj was sung by His Holiness and the entourage . The high delegation proceded to the parish office of the Old Catholic church-school community in Berne.
An opportunity to welcome His Holiness had also the Suiss Reformation Church headed by its president Dr. Gottfried Loher. The high hosts had an exquisite honor to expose to the Serbian Patriarch their Church organization in more details and its theological and organisational specifications. His Holiness thanked the hosts for a warm hospitality and expressed his hope that theologivcal dialogue between the Reformed Church and the Orthodox Church should be intensified.
The Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Berne headed by Ambassador Mr. Andjelko Grahovac atrranged a reception for His Holiness Patriarch as well.
His Holiness Irinej was accompanied by His Grace Bishop Andrej of Austria-Switzerland, protopresbyter-staurophor Stanko Markovic, presbyter Filip Milunovic, protodeacon Stevan Rapajic, Mr. Milan Kosresevic and Mr. Vladimir Jelic.
