11th anniversary of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill’s enthronement celebrated in Serbia
On 2nd February 2020, the celebrations marking the 11th anniversary of enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia took place at the Church of the Holy Trinity – the metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church in Belgrade. His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia officiated at the Divine Liturgy. Concelebrating with him was the rector of the metochion, Archpriest Vitaly Tarasyev, and the Serbian clergy.
After the Liturgy Fr. Vitaly greeted His Holiness Patriarch Irinej, saying in particular: “We are grateful to the Lord, as in Your Holiness we can see the fulfillment of St Paul’s words about the glad tidings, by embracing which believers, according to the Apostle, can attain salvation. You show an example of faith and strength to withstand and continue following the path of Christ. The same developments, regretfully, are taking place in the land of the Holy Prince Vladimir of Kiev in Ukraine and in the lands of St. Sava, and our major task is to remain faithful to the Gospel, to preserve the church doctrine and the unity of the Orthodox Church.”
Addressing the worshippers who gathered in the church to celebrate the 11th anniversary of enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia emphasized that Patriarch Kirill “by the Divine Providence was elected the head of the Russian Church at a time when the Church needs prominent and holy figures.”
The Primate of the Serbian Church expressed his deep gratitude to Patriarch Kirill and Russian President Vladimir Putin for their assistance in the restoration of the Cathedral of St. Sava in Belgrade. His Holiness noted the importance of brotherly relations between the Russian and the Serbian Orthodox Churches, emphasizing that the peoples of Russia and Serbia are bound up by the one Orthodox faith.
The divine service was followed by a reception marking the 11th anniversary of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill’s accession to the Moscow Patriarchal Throne.
DECR Communication Service