Patriarch Irinej of Serbia visits Representation of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Moscow

In the evening of 24 May 2018, His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia visited the Church of Ss. Peter and Paul at Yauza Gates – the Representation of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Moscow. His Holiness was accompanied by Bishop Irinej of Backa; Archimandrite Isihije (Rogic), abbot of the Kovilj Monastery, Bishop elect of Mohac; Deacon Aleksandar Prascevic, head of the Patriarchal Office; and Mr. Dejan Nakic, personal secretary to the Patriarch.

Meeting His Holiness Patriarch Irinej were Bishop Antonije of Moravica and clerics of the church. Among those who arrived at the Representation to greet the high guest were Metropolitan Niphon of Philippopolis, rector of the Representation of the Orthodox Church of Antioch in Moscow; Bishop Paisy of Schigry and Manturovo; Bishop Andrei of Rossosh and Ostrogozhsk; Bishop Ioann of Domodedovo; Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, DECR vice-chairman; and Archimandrite Seraphim (Shemyatovsky), rector of the Representation of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia in Moscow.

Bishop Antonije of Moravica greeted His Holiness Patriarch Irinej on behalf of the clergy and parishioners of the Serbian Representation, congratulated His Holiness on receiving an award of the International Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations and presented him with an icon of St. Arsenius the Archbishop of Serbia.

His Holiness Patriarch Irinej thanked the rector of the Representation for hospitality and the gift.

The Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church said he thanked God for the two days spent in Moscow in the splendid spiritual and prayerful atmosphere. “Moscow has always been and still is a great spiritual centre not only for the Russian Orthodox Church, but for the whole Orthodoxy as well,” Patriarch Irinej said, “The Serbs have always tied their small boat to the great Russian ship. We pin high hopes on Russia’s help. These days we are enduring ordeals in Kosovo, and the Russian Church – in Ukraine. Today’s rulers want to take away our land, where our greatest shrines are located. For these shrines our ancestors who defended Kosovo shed much blood.”

His Holiness Patriarch Irinej thanked Bishop Antonije for his service of many years as representative of the Serbian Orthodox Church and presented the Representation with an icon of St. Sava of Serbia.

Source: mospat.ru