Solemn welcome of the Serbian Patriarch Irinej in Damascus

His Holiness Irinej arrived in Damascus, the capital of Syria on 1 june 2019.

His Holiness Patriarch Irinej and the delegation of the Serbian Orthodox Church were welcomed in the most solemn way by His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and All East with hierarchs of the ancient Patriarchate of Antioch and the pious people of the Syrian capital.

On the occasion of the arrival of His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, and the delegation of the Serbian Orthodox Church, a solemn doxology rite was served in the Patriarchal Cathedral Church in Damascus on Saturday, 1 June 2019.

Following the solemn welcome and a procession of Patriarch Irinej and the delegation of the Serbian Orthodox Church along the streets of Damascus, His Holiness Irinej with His Beatitude John was greeted by hierarchs of the Church of Antioch, dignitaries ofother Christian Churches, high state officials, charge d' affaires of the Embassy of Serbia to Syria Mr. Milan Vijatovic, Ambassador of the Russian Federation Mr. Aleksander Jefimov and Ambassador of Belarus Mr. Yuriy Sluka in the Patriarchate’s Cathedral church of the Most Holy Theotokos.

In a warm address Patriarch John wished a welcome to Patriarch Irinej in “the heart of the Church of Antioch” on behalf of the plenitude of the Church of Antioch, metropolitans, bishops, clergy, monastics and all the faithful people, then brothers Patriarchs of other Christian Churches and all Christians, as well as on behalf of all gathered and citizens of Syria, Muslims and Christians.

After this solemnity manifestation, in the courtyard of the Patriarchate’s residence a reception was held during which Patriarchs Irinej and John gave their archpastoral blessings to the faithful people and had talks with many high dignitaries in attendance the welcome ceremony.