The second day of the Serbian Church delegation in the Patriarchate of Antioch

On the second day of the stay in the God-protected city of Damascus, 2 June 2019, His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, along with His Beatitude Patriarch John of Antioch and All the East celebrated the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the Cathedral church of the Precious Cross in Damascus, not far from the headquarters of the Patriarchate of Antioch.
 (photo gallery 1, photo gallery 2, photo gallery 3, photo gallery 4, photo gallery 5, video 1, video 2 of the Information Center of the Patriarchate of Antioch.)

The Serbian and Antiochian Patriarchs were concelebrated by eighteen hierarchs, twenty four priests and five deacons. Patriarch Irinej was welcomed by several hundreds of people at the square facing the church of the Holy Cross. At the very end of the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy Patriarch John of Antioch and All the East delivered a speech. His Holiness Irinej thanked whole-heartedly for the welcoming words and addressed His Beatitude Patriarch John and the congregation.

Immediately after the holy Liturgy patriarch Irinej spent a few hours blessing the faithful, those who queued to kiss the right-hand of the Serbian Archhierarch.

Soon thereafter the delegation paid a brotherly visit to the Greek Catholic Patriarch Joseph Alabasi. Also in this holy place Serbian Patriarch Irinej was greeted solemnly. His Beatitude Greek Catholic Patriarch Joseph sincerely and with deep respect addressed His Holiness Patriarch Irinej.

In addition, His Holiness and the delegation of the Serbian Orthodox Church visited Syrian Jacobite Patriarch Mar Ignatius Aphrem II. The His Holiness Patriarch Ignatius wished a warm welcome to Patriarch Irinej stating in brief the suffering of his faithful and a history of this ancient and respected Church.

The solemn banquet in honor of the Serbian Patriarch to Antioch was given the same day, on Sunday, 2 June 2019, at the United Nations hotel in Damascus. The banquet was attended by ministers of the Syrian Government headed by the First Speaker of the Syrian Parliament Mr. Hamoud Sabagh, who is the first Christian in that position in the history of the Government of Syria; Mr. Imad Khamis, Prime minister of Syria; Dr. Buteyna Shabane, political and media adviser to the President of Syria: and Grand Mufti of Syria Ahmad Badr Al-Din Hassoun.

More than 850 high personalities and political, cultural, religious, economic dignitaries were addressed by the host, His Beatitude Patriarch John of Antioch and All East, who expressed a welcome to the Serbian Patriarch and emphasized the significance of his visit, which is not just a support to Orthodox Christians, but also to all who live and wants to live in peace in this region. Also Grand Mufti of Syria Ahmad Hassoun delivered an address carrying the similar important message.