On Saturday, October 5, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian of Canada met with His Beatitude Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia in Montreal.
His Beatitude attended the 70th anniversary of the Serbian Orthodox Parish of the Holy Trinity in Montreal.
The anniversary began on Saturday with the Divine Liturgy, attended by His Eminence Mitrofan, Serbian Orthodox Archbishop of Toronto and Metropolitan of Canada, His Eminence Irénée, Archbishop of Canada (OCA), and His Grace Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Nikon of Jenopolje.
Bishop Ioan Casian made a gesture of greeting and appreciation by presenting the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church with an icon of Christ Pantocrator, the commemorative icon of the year 2024, as well as the anniversary medal and diploma of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada, during a reception following the service.
Patriarch Porfirije acknowledged the unique relationship between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Romanian Orthodox Church and requested that Bishop Ioan Casian extend his best wishes and gratitude to His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania.
The Serbian Orthodox Church’s Primate also underscored the necessity of Orthodox Church collaboration in modern society and the significance of its active involvement in the lives of its members and the broader community.
As Patriarch Porfirije emphasised, Christian values must be courageously and visibly promoted as signs of God’s blessing and work, as well as foundational elements of an authentic, spiritually and socially healthy society, in a modern society that is undergoing rapid changes and a complex social, political, and economic context, as reported by the Diocese of Canada.
Bishop Ioan Casian also presented the anniversary medal and diploma of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada to His Eminence Mitrofan, Serbian Orthodox Metropolitan of Canada, in recognition of his prolonged pastoral and missionary activity.
The itinerary for Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia’s visit included meetings with the Serbian faithful, Canadian state and local authorities, and representatives of other Orthodox Churches.
Photo: Diocese of Canada
