Department for External Church Relations
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Patriarch Irinej of Serbia leads celebrations marking the 4th anniversary of the enthronement of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia
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February 10, 2013 – Celebrations on the occasion of the 4th anniversary of the enthronement of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia took place at the church of the Holy Trinity of the Belgrade Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church.
A large number of the faithful congregated for the Divine Liturgy and thanksgiving celebrated by His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia. He was assisted by the Serbian clergy and the rector of the ROC Belgrade Representation, Archpriest Vitalij Tarasjev.
After the service, Father Vitalij addressed himself to Patriarch Irinej with words of greeting and gratitude, saying, ‘Today, in one spiritual outburst, we have again turned our eyes to the unshakable spiritual traditions of our Churches and our peoples’.
Addressing the congregation, Patriarch Irinej said, ‘In honouring the Primate of the Russian Church, we do not just show respect for our kindred nation; for the anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia is a great day for the whole Orthodox Church, because such a great and God-loved man as he is belongs to all the Local Orthodox Churches and the entire Orthodox flock’.
Remembering with gratitude the support the Serbian people received at difficult times from Patriarch Kirill and the heads of the Russian Orthodox Church before him as well as from the clergy and laity of the Moscow Patriarchate, the Patriarch of Serbia stressed that ‘Serbia today has no need to choose her way of development, her future. This choice was made for us hundreds of years ago by St. Sava when he left the house of his father to turn to Russia for spiritual power and wisdom. Remaining a state of European values and worldview, Serbia knows that her ‘small boat’ is tied forever with the powerful boat – Russia. And our history tells us that we should sail in the same direction’.
A high award of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Order of St. Seraphim of Sarov, was presented to Aleksandar Antic, chairman of the Belgrade City Assembly, in recognition of his active participation in the settlement of the legal status of the historical memorial ‘Russian Necropolis’.
In conclusion of the festivities, Archpriest Vitalij Tarasjev, gave a grand reception in honour of the 4th anniversary of the ascension of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill to the See of Moscow.
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