Department for External Church Relations
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Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk Leads Patronal Celebrations at Moscow Metochion of Serbian Orthodox Church
DECR Communication Service, 12/07/2026
On 12th July 2026, commemoration day of the Holy, Glorious and All-Praised Leaders of the Apostles, Peter and Paul, the Metochion of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Moscow celebrated its patronal feast.
The Divine Liturgy in the Church of Saints Peter and Paul at Yauza Gates was celebrated by Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate; Metropolitan Niphon of Philippopolis, Representative of the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’; and Bishop Stefan of Remesiana, Representative of the Serbian Patriarch to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’.
Concelebrating with the hierarchs were: Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, Advisor to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’; Archimandrite Seraphim (Shemyatovsky), Representative of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia to the Moscow Patriarchal Throne; Archpriest Igor (Yakimchuk), DECR Deputy Chairman; Archpriest Sergiy Gutenko, Rector of the Church of the Blessed Xenia of Petersburg in Lugansk; Priest Joan Popaj (Albanian Orthodox Church); and local clerics.
During the Litany of Fervent Supplication, the prayer for the Holy Rus’ was read.
Among those who attended the divine service were Mr Momčilo Babić, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Serbia to the Russian Federation; Mr Nenad Kolev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of North Macedonia to the Russian Federation; and Ms Gordana Božić, Minister Counsellor of the Serbian Embassy in Moscow.
After the Liturgy, prayers of praise were offered to the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. The clergy and choir sang the troparion and kontakion to the saints.
It was followed by the rite of blessing and cutting the kolač (bread). It is a widespread tradition in the Balkan countries, according to which on feast days the faithful bring bread, wine and koljivo to church to be blessed and then given out to worshippers.
After the divine service, the DECR Chairman extended festal greetings to all those present on behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ and on his own behalf.
In commemoration of the patronal celebrations at the Serbian Metochion, Metropolitan Anthony presented a holy panagia to Bishop Stefan of Remesiana.
Bishop Stefan cordially thanked Metropolitan Anthony and Metropolitan Niphon for the joint prayer and asked Metropolitan Anthony to convey his gratitude and heartfelt wishes to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill.
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