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Metochion of the Russian Church in Belgrade celebrates 15th anniversary of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill’s enthronement
DECR Communication Service, 06.02.2024.
On Sunday, February 4, the 15th anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus', which took place on February 1, was celebrated at the Church of the Holy Trinity of the Metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church in Belgrade. With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia, officiating at the Divine Liturgy was his vicar, Bishop Dositej of Lipljan.
Concelebrating with Bishop Dositej were archpriest Vitaly Tarasjev, rector of the metochion of the Russian Church in the capital of Serbia; archimandrite Nektarije, secretary of the Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church and rector of St. Mark’s church in Belgrade; archpriest Djordje Stanisavljević, head of the Patriarch’s office; and clerics of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Present at the church were Mr. Gavrilo Grban of the Office for Religious Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, representatives of the administration of the Palilula municipality of Belgrade, and Mr. Nenad Popović, president of the Serbian People's Party.
In his address after the service, archpriest Vitaly Tarasjev told the audience about His Holiness Patriarch Kirill’s work done for spiritual renewal of the Russian people after decades of state atheism.
He thanked Bishop Dositej for celebration of the Liturgy and presented him with a panagia for prayerful memory.
On behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Porfirje, Bishop Dositej conveyed gratitude and congratulations to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and made a pointed reference to the role he played in the process of spiritual revival, saying: “Some fourteen new churches are consecrated in Russia every day... Indeed, God’s mercy is bestowed on Russia as a reward for its suffering in the 20th century. The Russian land has suddenly and very quickly revived. This is a real miracle accomplished by the Lord, who has chosen worthy hierarchs to lead the Church.”
“Russia is going through a difficult time which the Serbian people had experienced, namely, fratricidal wars instigated by the powers of darkness,” the hierarch said and added that prayers are being offered in the Serbian Church for peace to return and “for love to reign again among brothers.”
“We are grateful to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill for his love for the Serbian people,” Bishop Dositej continued to say. “The Russian people, who are aware of the spiritual significance of the Cathedral of St. Sava in Belgrade, worked diligently on its completion and decoration and gained the blessing of St. Sava of Serbia. We thank the Lord God for choosing His Holiness Patriarch Kirill to be the shepherd of the Russian people in our hard times,” the archpastor said.
After the service, the metochion hosted a gala reception in honor of the 15th anniversary of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill’s enthronement.
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