DECR chairman meets with Bishop Lukijan of Budimlije

On September 6, 2021, when on a visit to Hungary, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, visited the church of St. George’s church of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Budapest. At the entrance to the church, Vladyka Hilarion was met by the Administrator of the Budimlije diocese, Bishop Lukijan.

After a short moleben service the hierarch of the Serbian Church extended warm greetings to the DECR chairman. Mentioning his long-time acquaintance with Metropolitan Hilarion that had lasted since his ministry in Hungary, Vladyka Lukijan expressed his joy with His Eminence’s coming to Budapest and with visiting the local Serbian parish. As Bishop Lukijan said, that visit had become another evident manifestation of the closeness of the Russian and Serbian Churches. The Bishop expressed hope that this closeness would further promote the service of the two Churches in the conditions of today that often happened to be difficult.

The Administrator of the Budimlije diocese touched upon the situation of the Orthodox Church in Montenegro in particular. He said that he had just returned fr om Cetinje, wh ere he had participated in the ceremony of the enthronement of Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro and Littoral. He was happy to mention the presence of a delegation of the Moscow Patriarchate there, and asked for a prayerful support for the Orthodox of Montenegro who were preserving their faithfulness to the canonical Church.
Bishop Lukijan conveyed greetings from His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of the Serbian Orthodox Church to Metropolitan Hilarion and presented him with an icon of St. Peter of Cetinje for prayerful memory.

The DECR chairman expressed heartfelt gratitude to the representative of the Serbian Orthodox Church for a welcome extended to him and said that he had warm relationship with the local diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church during the years of his ministry in Hungary, adding that this tradition has survived, bringing good fruits.

Metropolitan Hilarion noted the Russian Orthodox Church’s unwavering support of the unity of the Serbian Orthodox Church and added that His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia had congratulated Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro and the Littoral on his enthronement.

The DECR chairman wished Bishop Lukijan God’s aid in his archpastoral care for the faithful of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Hungary and presented him with some of his books published in the Hungarian language. Fraternal repast followed.

DECR Communication Service

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DECR chairman meets with Bishop Lukijan of Budimlije

Patriarch

Department Chairman

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Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons