His Grace Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, Secretary of the Holy Synod, welcomed His Eminence Metropolitan Lukijan of Buda, administrator of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Timișoara, at the Patriarchal Palace on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Rev. Vicar Marinco Marcov, Hieromonk Varnava Kzezevic, and Protodeacon Miodrag Iovanovic accompanied him.
Bishop Varlaam conveyed His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel’s blessings and wished the Serbian delegation a blessed stay in Bucharest during the meeting. The delegation is in the city to participate in the blessing of Serbia’s new embassy in the Romanian capital.
Metropolitan Lukijan expressed his gratitude for the warm reception at the Romanian Patriarchate and shared his joy in visiting several churches in Bucharest.
He remarked that the most beautiful aspect of his visit was encountering the “living Church”—seeing so many faithful in prayer in the city’s churches.
Both parties also spoke of the strong historical ties between the Romanian and Serbian peoples. They highlighted the annual pilgrimage to Iași for the Feast of Saint Paraskeva, which draws many Serbian faithful and clergy.
At the end of the meeting, Metropolitan Lukijan praised Patriarch Daniel’s dedication to the construction of the National Cathedral in Bucharest, a powerful symbol of the Romanian people’s enduring faith through challenging times.
Following the meeting, the Serbian delegation visited the Patriarchal Cathedral and the New St. Spyridon Metropolitan Cathedral in Bucharest.
Department for Church Relations, Interfaith Dialogue, and External Church Communities
Photo: Lumina Newspaper / Mihnea Păduraru
