His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales paid His first visit to the Serbian Patriarchate.
Belgrade, 16thMarch 2016. – Upon his arrival to the Patriarchate, there was a meeting between His Beatitude Serbian Patriarch Irinej and His Royal Highness Charles, Prince of Wales. Thereafter, the Serbian Patriarch and the Prince of Wales together visited the Patriarchal Chapel of Saint Symeon the Myrrh-Gushing, which the Serbian Orthodox Church for almost a century has offered to the Anglican Community to serveChristmas services according to the Gregorian calendar. Consequently, the visit of Prince Charles to the Chapel has a special significance, since the chapel itself is a symbol of the historical friendship between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Church of England.
On this occasion, His Holiness handed in His Royal Highness a copy of the miraculous icon of the Most Holy Mother of God from the Patriarchate of Pec whereas the Belgrade Male Choir welcomed His Holiness and His Royal Highness with spiritual hymns.
Talks with the friends of the Hilandar Monastery
Following the visit to the Patriarchate Chapel, His Holiness and His Royal Highness met with the friends of the Hilandar Monastery, among whom there were notables: Prof. Dr. Vladeta Jankovic, Dr. Graham Speake, Mr. Milivoj Randjic, Professor Dr. Mirko Kovacevic, academician Mrs. Mirjana Zivojinovic and His Excellency Konstantinos Ikonomidis, the Ambassador of the Republic of Greece to Serbia.
On this occasion, His Royal Highness had an opportunity to learn more about what had already been done on the restoration of the Hilandar Monastery, as well as about what has to be done in future.
Visit to Saint Sava Memorial Cathedral on Vracar
After this meeting, His Royal Highness visited the Saint Sava Cathedral in the city district of Vracar too, where he was welcomed by His Grace Bishop Arsenije of Toplica with the clergy and Mr. Vojislav Milovanovic, the chief architect of the Cathedral.
Prince Charles toured the Cathedral and the crypt, where on spot he was introduced into its history and the current works. A special concert was held in honour of His Royal Highness, directed by academician Dimitrije Stefanovic along with Milica Radivojevic. conductor of the choir “Hallelujah”, and Strahinja Savkovic, student of the Orthodox Theological Faculty of the Belgrade University, who sang a few old chants of the Serbian Orthodox music.
Meeting with religious dignitaries in Serbia
In fact, before the visit to the Patriarchate, His Holiness met with His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales at the Residence of Princess Ljubica, which was followed by a courtesy meeting with the representatives of all religious communities. His Grace Bishop Arsenije of Toplica, Mufti Muhamed Jusufspahic, Rabi Isaac Asiel, Rev. Ivica Damjanovic on behalf of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Belgrade, as well as Rev. Robin Fox, Anglican chaplain in Belgrade, participated in cordial conversations.
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