On 24th September 2017, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, conducted the festive Patriarchal concelebration together with His Beatitude Irenaios Patriarch of Serbia, in the Crypt of the Holy Church of St Savva in Belgrade, with the participation of Hierarchs from both Patriarchates, Priests and hundreds of faithful.
His Beatitude the Patriarch of Serbia, addressing the Alexandrian Primate, amongst other things mentioned the need for unity, which is now more necessary than ever before. He expressed the gratitude of the faithful Serbian people for the visit by the Alexandrian Primate and the great joy which he himself feels about this visit.
His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros II, during his homily said amongst other things: “…We came as pilgrims to the sanctified and martyred earth of Serbia. We came to met the much suffering, martyred and most pious Orthodox people of Serbia. We came as pilgrims, to return the pilgrimage of the founder of the Serbian Church Archbishop Saint Savva, to our Church in Egypt, eight hundred years ago. We came to venerate the grace filled relics of her Saints and fighters for the faith, our mot sweet Orthodoxy, which the pious people of Serbia maintains and preserves as a precious legacy, as an un-waning lamp…”.
Following the Dismissal of the Divine Eucharist, an official address was given by His Beatitude Irenaios, together with the awarding of a medal to the Alexandrian Primate Theodoros II, of the Supreme Medal of the Serbian Church, of the Order of St Savvas 1st Class as well as the gift to him of an icon of the Saint Apostle and Evangelist Mark.
His Beatitude Irenaios also honoured the entourage of the Patriarch of Alexandria, Metropolitans George of Guinea, Niphon of Pilousion and Archimandrite Daniel Biazis with the medal of St Savvas 2nd Class.
