The first divine service as the representative of the Patriarch of Serbia to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia was held on Easter night, May 5, 2024, at the Serbian suburb in Moscow - in the Church of the First-Faithful Apostles Peter and Paul at the Yauza Gate Bishop Stephen of Remezjansky, vicar of the Serbian Patriarch Porfiry.
The decision to recommend to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to accept Bishop Stefan of Remezjanski as the new rector of the palace and representative of the Serbian Church in Moscow was made by the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church at a meeting on April 18, 2024.
His Holiness Patriarch Porphyrios of Serbia announced this in a letter to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, noting: when making this decision, it was taken into account that the life path of Bishop Stefan, from his early youth to the present day, "is inextricably linked with fraternal Russia and the Russian Church". As is known, in 2003-2006 he studied at the Moscow Theological Academy, where he graduated with the title of Candidate of Theology.
The first rector of the podvorye after its opening in 2002 Bishop of Moravia. Anthony died to the Lord on March 11 this year after a long and serious illness. For more than two decades he was the representative of the Patriarch of Serbia to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, the rector of the Serbian Orthodox Church's suburb in Moscow, remaining in this position until his untimely death. His Holiness Patriarch Porfiry expressed the hope that Vladyka Stefan's accession to the work of the blessedly departed Bishop Anthony will be fruitful and will contribute to the further strengthening of the inseparable bond between the two Churches.
His Holiness Patriarch Porfiry also thanked the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church for his "fatherly caring attitude to the Serbian Orthodox Church's farmstead in Moscow", which is under his patronage, spiritual supervision and guidance, "expressing his firm assurance that this will continue to be the case in the future, for the love of God and the good of the Russian and Serbian Orthodox peoples".
At the end of the festive service at the Serbian Orthodox Church in Moscow, Bishop Stefan of Remezjanski shared his memories of communion and joint ministry with Bishop Anthony of Moravia.
EVCS Communication Service/Patriarchy.ru
