THE PRESIDENT OF SERBIA: “I WANT YOU TO LOOK ON SERBIA AS YOUR HOMELAND”

On 25th September 2017, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, together with His Beatitude Irenaios Patriarch of Serbia, left by car for the mountain area of Fruska Gora, where he paid a visit to venerate at the Monasteries of the Annunciation of the Theotokos Krusedol and of St Nicholas Hopovo.

On the evening of the same day, together with His Beatitude Irenaios Patriarch of Serbia, he was welcomed at the Presidential Palace by His Excellency the President of the Serbian Republic Mr. Aleksandar Vučić. There, His Beatitude briefed the President on the work undertaken throughout the African Continent by the Patriarchate of Alexandria, the friendly relations and brotherhood between the Greek and Serbian people, as well as the particular love which the Patriarch of Serbia has for the missionary activity in Africa.

His Excellency President Vučić expressed his great joy and honour on meeting His Beatitude Theodoros, noting that on these days the entire Serbian nation embraces the presence of the Patriarch, with enthusiasm and genuine love.the President then awarded the Primate of the African Orthodox Church, the medal of the Serbian Republic, giving the supreme honour of the Serbian State for the first time since the day he undertook his duties as President.

His Beatitude then awarded the Serbian President the Great Cross of the Apostle Mark.

The two Primates then left immediately for the historic city of Kraljevo, where with the Officiation of the local Bishop Justin of Zici, an official welcome and Doxology was done at the Cathedral in the city, with thousands of faithful present.