Patriarch Porfirije Received Orthodox Church in America Delegation

spc.rs and OCP News Service – 26/02/2025

Belgrade-Serbia: His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Porfirije on February 26,2025 received a high-level delegation from the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) at the Patriarchal Palace in Belgrade. The delegation, led by His Grace Bishop Gerasim of Fort Worth and Archpriest Alexander Margheritin, Chancellor of His Beatitude Archbishop Tikhon, Primate of the OCA, engaged in fruitful discussions focused on strengthening ties and promoting pan-Orthodox cooperation.

Patriarch Porfirije warmly welcomed the delegation, emphasizing the importance of advancing the mission of the Orthodox Church globally, particularly in the United States. He highlighted the significance of close cooperation between local jurisdictions and addressed the ongoing restoration of the St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in New York City, a project he personally oversees.

The OCA delegation provided insights into the structure, activities, and mission of their Church, expressing a strong desire to further enhance relations with the Serbian Orthodox Church. Bishop Gerasim underscored the purpose of their three-day visit, which aimed to witness firsthand the life and work of the Serbian Church.

The visit, which began on February 26th, included a warm welcome at Nikola Tesla Airport by Patriarchal Vicar Bishop Dositeji, followed by a dinner hosted by Patriarch Porfirije  at the St. Sava Cathedral parish house. Notably, the dinner was also attended by Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk and Archpriest Nikolay Balashov of the Moscow Patriarchate, facilitating discussions on shared concerns within the Orthodox world.

Discussions during the official meeting at the Patriarchal Palace covered a wide range of topics, including the life of the Orthodox Church in America, pan-Orthodox cooperation in North America, the Assembly of Bishops, world Orthodoxy, the Macedonian Orthodox Church, the importance of unity, and the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. The possibility of a future visit by Archbishop Tikhon to Serbia and a meeting between the two primates in Washington, D.C., was also explored.

The OCA delegation presented Patriarch Porfirije with a palitza depicting St. Olga of Alaska and discussed her upcoming canonization. They also gifted him a new translation of the Psalter and a copy of “The Journal of Joy” by Nicolae Steinhardt.

During their stay, the delegation visited significant sites, including the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. Michael, the Patriarchal Museum, St. Sava Cathedral, Vavedenje Monastery, and Rakovica Monastery, where they paid respects to the late Patriarch Pavle.

The delegation concluded their visit and returned to the United States on Saturday, March 1st, after a series of productive meetings and spiritual experiences, reinforcing the bonds between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church in America.

Source:

OCP News Services