Russian President Dmitry Medvedev congratulated Bishop Irinej of Niš on his election to the Serbian Patriarchal throne

A new Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church was elected in Belgrade on 22 January 2010. Bishop Irinej of Niš has become Archbishop of Peć, Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovci and Serbian Patriarch.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sent a congratulatory message to the newly elected Primate of the Serbian Church.

Presidential press service reports that the message reads, “Your high authority among the believers, a great pastoral experience leave no doubt in that you will worthily fulfill your Primatial mission.

“I hope that following the lead of Patriarch Pavle and other your predecessors at the Patriarchal throne you will bring an important contribution to the consolidation of the centuries-long fraternal ties between the people of Russia and Serbia.”