Hegumen Arseny (Sokolov), representative of Patriarch of Moscow and Al Russia to Patriarch of Antioch and All the East attends celebration of irenical visit of His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia
On 1 June 2019, a delegation of the Serbian Orthodox Church headed by His Holiness Patriarch Irinej was solemnly met at the Mariamia Cathedral in Damascus and warmly welcomed by the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Antioch, His Beatitude Patriarch John X, an assembly of bishops, clergymen and laypersons. After the Doxology that was sang in the Arabic and Serbian languages, His Beatitude Patriarch John X and His Holiness Patriarch Irinej exchanged salutary addresses.
On Sunday, June 2, festive Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Church of the Holy Cross in Damascus. His Beatitude Patriarch John X and His Holiness Patriarch Irinej officiated. Among those concelebrating was Hegumen Arseny, representative of Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the Patriarchal Throne of Antioch.
That same day in the evening a reception was given in honour of the delegation of the Serbian Orthodox Church at Four Seasons hotel. The reception was attended by bishops of the Orthodox Church of Antioch headed by His Beatitude Patriarch John X, members of the delegation of the Serbian Orthodox Church headed by His Holiness Patriarch Irinej, heads and representatives of the Church in the Middle East, Supreme Mufti of Syria Ahmad Bardeddin Hassoun, ministers of the government of Syria, deputies of the Parliament, and heads of diplomatic missions located in Damascus. Hegumen Arseny was among the attendees.