On November 15, 2024, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk arrived in Belgrade. Metropolitan Anthony is accompanied on his trip by Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, advisor to His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, vice-chairman of the Russian Orthodox Church, and Priest Nikolai Vasin, secretary to the chairman of the Russian Orthodox Church.
At the airport of the Serbian capital, the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church was met by the representative of the Patriarch of Serbia to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Bishop Stephen of Remezia, Bishop Peter of Toplice, Vicar of the Patriarch of Srpska, Archpriest Vitaly Tarasiev, Superior of the Russian Orthodox Church in Belgrade, and Archpriest Djordje Stojsavljevic, Head of the Office of the Patriarch of Srpska.
On the same day in the chamber «Serbia» — Government Complex in Belgrade — the meeting of the Chairman of the Russian Orthodox Church with the Minister of the Government of Serbia N. Popovic took place. The meeting was attended by members of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as the Rector of the Karlovac Seminary, Archpriest Jovan Milanovic, Deputy Dean of the Orthodox Theological Faculty of the University of Eastern Sarajevo, Archpriest Darko Jogo, and Archpriest Miloš Trisic, clergyman of the Zvornica-Tuzla Diocese. Welcoming Metropolitan Anthony and his companions, N. Popovic emphasized that their visit is timed to the 100th anniversary of the consecration of the Trinity Church — the podvorye of the Russian Orthodox Church in Belgrade, and noted that for Serbia this anniversary is important not only from the ecclesiastical, but also from the state point of view, because the temple was created by the joint efforts of Russians and Serbs and is a symbol of Russian-Serbian spiritual unity. In turn, the chairman of the Russian Orthodox Church reminded that the Trinity Church was built in the tragic years of the mass exodus of people from the revolutionary turmoil in Russia, and that the Russian people will always retain the grateful memory of the love and hospitality with which the faithful Serbian people received Russian refugees, providing them with all the conditions for living and, first of all, giving them the opportunity to build their own churches. According to Vladyka Anthony, even in the current difficult times, the Trinity Church is a spiritual bridge connecting the Russian and Serbian peoples, a visible sign of their centuries-old friendship, tested by the many sufferings they have endured.
Afterwards, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk took part in the conference «100 years of the Holy Trinity Church of the Russian Orthodox Church and its relations with the Serbian Orthodox Church», which gathered scientific, ecclesiastical and public figures from Serbia, Russia and other countries. In his speech, the Chairman of the Russian Orthodox Church gave the greetings and good wishes of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, thanking the representatives of the scientific community for their attention to the commemorative date. Speaking about the anniversary, Metropolitan Anthony pointed out that the history of the Russian people, who in the 20th century experienced one of the most tragic pages in their history, testifies that it is impossible for a person to live without God. The hierarch drew attention to the fact that Russian people, leaving their homeland due to the revolutionary events, thought first of all not about material needs, but about how to organize their spiritual life. Among the things they would need first of all, they took with them icons, liturgical books and utensils, realizing that in a distant country they would not be able to live without the Church. The Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations noted that, unlike other countries where Russian emigrants had lived, in Serbia they had the opportunity to build churches and felt at home, surrounded by brothers and sisters — people who welcomed them with heartfelt warmth and hospitality as of their relatives. The hierarch emphasized that the Russian Orthodox Church still retains the grateful memory of this wonderful hospitality.
Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk and his entourage arrived in the city of Novi Sad, where they were warmly welcomed.
In the evening of the same day, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk and his entourage arrived in the city of Novi Sad, where they were warmly welcomed by Archbishop and Metropolitan Irinej of Bacsk and Bishop Damaskin, Vicar of the Diocese of Bacsk. In the fraternal communion that took place, the interlocutors exchanged views on various issues on the international and inter-Orthodox agenda.
EVCS Communication Service/Patriarchy.ru
