Delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church completes its visit to Serbia

On 20 November 2009, a restored monument to the Russian Emperor Nicholas II and the Russian soldiers killed during World War I in the Balkans was blessed at the new cemetery in Belgrade. The Office of the Blessing was celebrated by the Locum Tenens of the Serbian Orthodox Church throne Metropolitan Amphilohije of Montenegro and the Coastlands and Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus who led the Russian Orthodox Church delegation at the funeral of His Holiness Patriarch Pavle of Serbia. Ordained members of the delegation and the Belgrade clerics concelebrated.

Present at the Office of the Blessing were the Russian Ambassador in Belgrade A. Konuzin, deputy chairman of the National Assembly of Serbia R. Obradovic, representatives of the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, a heir to the Serbian throne Prince Alexander, Serbian military commanders, political leaders, diplomats from the Byelorussian Embassy in Serbia, and Russian and Serbian businessmen.

After the Office of the Blessing, wreaths from the Russian Embassy, Serbian government, and the Serbian Ministry of Defense were laid to the monument. Russian and Serbian national anthems were played.

Ambassador A. Konuzin and the Russian Orthodox Church metochion in Belgrade gave a luncheon at the Russian Embassy on the occasion of the memorable event. On behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, Metropolitan Filaret conferred high church awards on the donors who helped restore the monument first unveiled in 1935.

That same day the Russian Orthodox Church delegation departed for homeland.