With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and at the invitation of the Priesthood of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the head of the Belgorod Metropolitanate Metropolitan John of Belgorod and Starooskolsk has arrived in Serbia.
Metropolitan John arrived in Serbia.
At the beginning of his stay on Serbian soil, Metropolitan John visited the Church of St. Sava on Vračar in Belgrade on June 11, 2024. There there was a meeting and a brief conversation between Metropolitan John and the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, who arrived in Serbia with the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God, the main shrine of the Russian Diaspora.
Metropolitan John's visit to Serbia was accompanied by the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God, the main shrine of the Russian Diaspora.
On June 12, on the eve of the feast of the Ascension of the Lord, Metropolitan John was received at his residence by His Holiness Patriarch Porfiry of Serbia, the website of the Belgorod Metropolitan Church reports the website of the Belgorod Metropolitan Church. During the conversation, which took place in a spirit of brotherly love, the Primate of the Serbian Church expressed deep regret over the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the tragic events separating the brotherly peoples.
On behalf of the residents of Belogorye, the guest handed His Holiness a hoop with the image of the Savior and the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. Patriarch Porfiry also received a gift of a coverlet made by Belgorod seamstresses. The Primate of the Serbian Church especially noted the book of Vladyka John «The Sky of Our Life» translated into Serbian by Nenad Boiko, a graduate of Belgorod Seminary.
On June 13, on the feast of the Ascension of the Lord, Metropolitan John of Belgorod and Starooskolsk, at the invitation of Bishop Basil of Sremski, took part in the festivities on the occasion of the Throne Feast of Beocin Monastery.
The ancient monastic monastery is located in a valley between densely forested hills near the village of Beocin, not far from Novi Sad. Among the relics of the monastery is the miracle-working icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which has been there for more than 500 years. Numerous believers come to the monastery from all parts of Europe to pray before this icon to grant children and ask the Mother of God for help. The monastery is always full of children brought by their parents to thank the Blessed Virgin Mary.
On the threshold day of the monastery, Bishop Basil of Sremski and Vladyka Ioannes celebrated the feast of the Holy Mother of God. Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Ascension. The clergy of the diocese and numerous pilgrims prayed at the service.
Bishop Vasily welcomed the guest from the Russian Orthodox Church.
After the Liturgy, Bishop Vasily, welcoming the guest from the Russian Orthodox Church, mentioned how a hundred years ago in Sremski Karlovci received Russian bishops who emigrated from Russia. In memory of the joint prayer, the bishop presented Metropolitan John with a panagia, and also presented him with an edition of a scientific study on the history of the Sremski diocese and the relationship between the Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches.
For his part, the head of the Belgorod Metropolitan Church noted in his speech of gratitude that «just as a hundred years ago Russian bishops were received here with peace and love, so today Vladyka Vasily received me with love and peace on the hospitable land of Sremska»
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EVCS Communication Service/Patriarchy.ru
