Serbian Patriarch visits Mount Athos
His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irenaeus arrived to Mt. Athos on 20 October 2014.
Since Patriarch Paul as the primate of the Serbian Church did not visit Mount Athos, and that Patriarch German visited Mt. Athos in 1978, this is the first visit of the Serbian Patriarch to Mt. Athos after 35 years. According to the Athonite laws all primates of the Local Orthodox Churches when they enter the ground of Mount Athos they should visit its seat –capital town of Karyes. Patriarch Irenaeus was welcomed by protos – administrator of Mount Athos fathr Symeon from the holy monastery of Dionysiou (one-year mandate was given to representatives of the five Athonite monasteries: Saint Lavra, Saint Paul, Hilandar, Vatopedi and Dionysiou).
While visiting Karyes, one must see the hermitage of Saint Sava, the place where the Karyes Tipicon of Saint Sava was created according to tradition and where it is still kept.
After the solemn lunch, prepared in honour of the primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Patriarch continued to the monastery of Hilandar, where he was welcomed by the monastery brotherhood and the abbot Methodius. The welcome of Serbian Patriarch was also attended by Mr. Mileta Radojevic, Director of the Bureau for Cooperation with Religious Communities at the Government of the Republic of Serbia; Consul General in Thessaloniki Mr. Sinisa Pavic and many believers.
