Metropolitan Antony of Volokolamsk participates in Patriarchal Liturgy in Belgrade

DECR Communication service, 26.02.2025

On February 26, 2025, the Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Antony of Volokolamsk, participated in the Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the patronal feast of the Church of St. Simeon the Myrrh-streaming, the father of St. Sava of Serbia, in New Belgrade. The service was led by His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia.

Concelebrating with His Holiness were Bishop Tihon of Moravica; Advisor to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', Archpriest Nikolay Balashov; the Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Archimandrite Nektarije (Đurić); the rector of the church and Director of the Patriarchal Administrative Office, Archimandrite Danilo (Gavranović); the Head of the Cabinet of the Serbian Patriarch, Archpriest Georgije Stoisavljević; and clergy from Belgrade.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy and the traditional Serbian rite of blessing and cutting the kolach (festive bread), His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije addressed the faithful with a sermon on the life and spiritual struggle of St. Simeon the Myrrh-streaming.

His Holiness also greeted the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church, expressing joy at the shared prayer during the Divine Liturgy. "We pray together to God because the Church is one, and we are all one people, one Blood and one Body in Christ. In addition to being brothers by biological roots, we are also historically and inseparably connected by one spirit, one culture, and one Orthodox faith. Therefore, I thank His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' for blessing his envoys to be with us today," said Patriarch Porfirije.

In turn, Metropolitan Antony of Volokolamsk conveyed heartfelt wishes from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill to the Primate of the Serbian Church for good health, strength, and abundant God's help in his patriarchal ministry, as well as peace and prosperity to the devout Serbian people.

The hierarch emphasized that the joint celebration of the Divine Liturgy visibly demonstrates the unity between the Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches and the peoples they shepherd.

Photo credit: Serbian Orthodox Church website

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Metropolitan Antony of Volokolamsk participates in Patriarchal Liturgy in Belgrade

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons