His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia celebrates at Belgrade Russian Orthodox Church metochion on its dedication day
On 8 June 2020, the Day of the Holy Spirit, the metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church in Belgrade celebrated its dedication day. His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia officiated at the festal Divine liturgy in concelebration with Archpriest Vitaly Tarasjev, rector of the metochion, and clergymen of Belgrade.
Attending the service were Dr. Nenad Popović, minister in charge of innovations and technological development; Ms. Mileta Radojević, director of the administration for cooperation with churches and religious communities; Mr. Denis Kuznedelev, minister-counselor of the Russian Embassy in Belgrade; academician Dimitry Stefanovich, and the parishioners.
After the liturgy Archpriest Tarasjev thanked His Holiness Patriarch Irinej for officiating at the metochion’s dedication day and underscored the importance of fraternal ties between the Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches and of common concern for the unity of Orthodoxy, dwelling in particular of the problem of keeping Orthodox holy sites in Kosovo and Metohija.
Archpriest Tarasjev presented His Holiness Patriarch Irinej with the Dečani icon of the Mother of God, saying that the life of Archimandrite Feodosy (Melnik) who was a cell-attendant of Metropolitan Antony (Khrapovitsky) during many years and hegumen of Visoki Dečani up to his demise in 1957 witnesses to the profound spiritual ties between people in care of the Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches.
The Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church congratulates all those gathered on the feast and said that throughout history the Church had undergone a lot of trials that made her even stronger. Patriarch Irinej mentioned severe persecution of the Russian Orthodox Church in the 20th century, spiritual ties of the Russian and Serbian people and the Russian aid rendered to the Serbian Church at different times. While talking about the ordeals of the Serbian Patriarchate nowadays, he mentioned the difficult situation in Montenegro and emphasized the necessity of doing anything possible for preserving the holy sites in the land of Kosovo.
The service was followed by a festive reception.