Patriarch Irinej at Russian Church in Belgrade
11/2/13
In Belgrade liturgically celebrated four years of Patriarchal service of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia
His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, served the Divine Liturgy at the Podvorye of the Moscow Patriarchate in Belgrade on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the Patriarchal service of His Holiness Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on 10 February 2013. Protopresbyter-staurophor Vitaly Tarasyev, dean of the Podvorye of the Russian Patriarchate in Belgrade, concelebrated. Academicians Vladeta JErotic and Matija Beckovic, as well as Aleksandar Antic, president of the City Assembly, attended the Holy Liturgy.
At the end of the Holy Liturgy, protopresbyter-staurophor Vitaly Tarasyev addressed His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, and emphasized one example out of many which described the best the Serbian-Russian unity: restoration of the Russian necropolis at Belgrade’s New cemetary. Last year, thanks to the Belgrade authorities, the Russian necropolis was given a special legal status of protected historical monument. That is why Mr. Aleksandar Antic, president of the City Assembly of Belgrade, who made this possible, was awarded by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia with the Order of Venerable Seraphim of Sarov of the Second Degree.
His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej handed over the great distinction of the Russian Church to Mr. Aleksandar Antic. This liturgical gathering was marked by three great Church jubilees: 1700th anniversary of the Edict of Milan, 200th anniversary of the nativity of Saint Symeon the Myrrh-Gusher and 200th anniversary of the birth of Peter II Petrovic Njegos. On this occasion protopresbyter-staurophor Vitaly Tarasyev gave Patriarch Irinej three gifts: sign of the Cross of Saint Symeon the Myrrh-Gusher done in bas-relief, and the image of Peter II Petrovic Njegos on wood.
