Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
January 23, 2002

His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle returned today from a three day visitation to Moscow where he received the Annual Award of the International Fund for the Unity of Orthodox Peoples, and Order of St. Andrew the First-called, the oldest order in Russia.  During the course of the stay of the delegation of the Serbian Orthodox Church, which, in addition to His Holiness Patriarch Pavle, consisted of Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral and Bishop Justin of Timok, a member of the Holy Synod of Bishops, the Representation of the Serbian Patriarchate was reopened in Moscow with Protosingelos Antonije (Pantelic), professor of the Seminary in Srbinje (Bosnia-Herzegovina), appointed as its dean.

The Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church regarded the visitation to Moscow as a contribution to the "unity of the Orthodox Churches, and also the unity of all persons of good will. In Moscow we have spent three days as one among our own. All is well that ends well, especially for the overall good estate -- of peace, justice and unity," stated Patriarch Pavle at a press conference at the Belgrade airport following his return from Moscow.

According to Metropolitan Amfilohije, the Serbian Patriarch was received with exceptional respect by the Russian people, the Primate and high ranking officials of the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as the President of the Russian Federation.

During official talks between His Holiness and the Serbian delegation with the Patriarch Alexy II and the members of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, contemporary problems facing the Orthodox Church were discussed. One of the most important themes according to the Russian, and other Orthodox Churches, are schisms, especially those which have developed in the past decade, as a result of spiritual paralysis and estrangement of entire generations from the Church -- reported Metropolitan Amfilohije, who regards this as a serious problem confronting contemporary Orthodoxy.

Patriarch Pavle met with Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, in the Kremlin following a concelebration of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy commemorating the Feast day of the Hieromartyr Metropolitan Philip, with the Patriarch of Moscow and a great number of hierarchs of the Russian Church. The Primate of the Serbian Church thanked the Russian President for "all of the aid which our people and state have received during the tragic events of this past decade, for the concern of the Russian Federation in seeking ways peace, and resolution of the problems in Kosovo and Metohija, as well as for the presence of the Russian soldiers in KFOR, who take exceptional care for Devich Monastery."

Metropolitan Amfilohije announced that Metropolitan Pitirim will be visiting the Serbian Orthodox Church and its Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral for the celebration of the Feast day of St. Sava. This visit will be an expression of the deep respect and concern of the Moscow Patriarchate for preserving the unity of our Patriarchates, as well as its desire to personally assist in resolving the problems which exist on the territory of our Church and among our people.”