Historical visit of Ecumenical Patriarch to Croatia

Church of Serbia – 11/9/16

Symposium with the theme New Martyrs: PolyperspectiveII  held in the Orthodox Grammar School Katarina Kantakuzina Brankovic

The clergy of the Metropolitanate of Zagreb-Ljubljana performed a solemn doxology rite in the chapel of Saint Sava, the church within the Orthodox Grammar School “Katarina Kantakuzina Brankovic” complex, which began at 10:30 a.m.

The church and the courtyard were small to receive numerous pious believers and students of this school, who arrived along with Metropolitan Porfirije of Zagreb-Ljubljana and greeted the high guest. The joy because of the historical visit of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Serbian Patriarch Irinej was enhanced also by the presence of hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church: Amfilohije of Zagreb-Ljubljana, Irinej of Backa, Pahomije of Vranje, Fotije od Dalmatia, Gerasim of GornjiKarlovci, Jovan of Slavonia and retired Bishop Atanasije of Herzegovina. The gathering was enhanced by a high delegation from the Polish Orthodox Church as well.

The solemn rite of thanksgiving was attended by abbots and abbesses of many monasteries, representatives of the Roman Catholic Church, religious communities, diplomatic corps, scientific and cultural institutions.

After the solemn doxology, under the auspices  of the Committee for Jasenovac of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Museum of the victims of the genocide, international symposium entitled New Martyrs: PolyperspectiveII was held in the Congress Hall of the Serbian Orthodox Grammar School Katarina Kantakuzina Brankovic.

The Symposium was opened by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who delivered an introductory lecture.

The first session was presided by His Grace Bishop Jovan of Slavonia, who reminded that Patriarch Bartholomew was in a right sense the angel of peace and a stimulus for building the bridges of peace.

Thereafter Mr. Ephraim Zurof, Director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center from Jerusalem, spoke on the theme Significance of justice in the memory of the Holocaust. Metropolitan Amfilohije and Mrs. RutaVanagaite delivered  lectures as well.

In the afternoon His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej, accompanied by Metropolitan Porfirije of Zagreb-Ljubljana, paid a friendly visit to the Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, Mr. Tihomir Oreskovic.

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Zagreb

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew arrived in Zagreb, the capital of the Republic of Croatia, today, on 9 September 2016.

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch was welcomed by His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej, His Eminence Metropolitan Porfirije of Zagreb-Ljubljana, Their Graces Bishops: Irinej of Backa and Jovan of Slavonia, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Greece to Zagreb Mrs. Eleni Gerokostopoulou at the runway of the Zagreb airport.

His All-Holiness was accompanied by His Eminence Metropolitan Gennadios of Sassima, deacon Andrew and Mr. Peter Sofianopoulos.

At the VIP lounge of the Zagreb International Airport, His All-Holiness Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew addressed numerous media representatives, and expressed his deepest gratitude for having an honour to be in the canonical territory of the sister Serbian Orthodox Church: – I warmly express gratitude to His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, for his invitation to visit dioceses of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Croatia, Patriarch Bartholomew said and recalled that almost less than two months before he had been with the Serbian Patriarch on the island of Crete at the Great and Holy Assembly of the Orthodox Church.

The reason for my arrival in Croatia is a desire that we all honor the victims of the Second World War. Cultural and civilizational level of each country and nation are measured by its stance towards ancestors and especially towards those who have suffered martyrdom serving their country. The Bible teaches us to rejoice when others rejoice and weep when others weep. Among the Orthodox Churches, there is closeness, both in joy and in sorrow.

Coming from Constantinople to Croatia, I bring fraternal greetings and blessings to all Orthodox believers, Patriarch Bartholomew said and expressed deep gratitude to Serbian Patriarch Irinej, Metropolitan Porfirije of Zagreb and Ljubljana, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Greece for their welcome. His All-Holiness especially thanked many media representatives for diligent covering. – May God bless this country Croatia and the Serbian Orthodox Church wherever she has its own jurisdiction.

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