Metropolitan Arsenios of Austria and Exarch of Hungary visited on Sunday, December 5, 2021, in Vienna (St. Johann am Fasangarten), the Parish of the Orthodox Religious Service of the Army.
This is the first visit of the Metropolitan to the Church that was kindly granted to the Parish of the Religious Service of the Orthodox Army for the performance of the Sunday Divine Liturgy. The Metropolitan presided over the Divine Liturgy along with the Protopresbyter Fr. Dr. Alexander Lapin, head of the Orthodox Religious Service of the Army, the hieromonk Fr. Athanasios Buk, and the Archdeacon of the Serbian Orthodox Parish of the 16th District Fr. Roman Fischer. The Divine Liturgy was also attended by the members of the Parish and the hierarchical head of the Holy Temple, Military Priest Dr. Harald Tripp as a representative of the other Religious Services of the Austrian Army.
After the end of the Divine Liturgy followed the speech of Metropolitan Arsenios on the subject of Life in Christ. Let us follow Christ, the Metropolitan urged the faithful, especially in the difficult times of challenges, but also of the preparation for the celebration of Christmas. He also advised them to be strong in their spiritual endeavors, to live in Christ, and to face all the challenges of daily life with patience and love. The great Saints that we celebrate and honor these days, he said, Saint Savvas, Saint Barbara, Saint Nicholas, let them be an important help and a great example for us.
The Metropolitan of Austria then expressed his satisfaction with the establishment of this Parish and the possibility of holding the Divine Liturgy regularly, as well as his joy for his first visit to the Orthodox military in Vienna. He thanked the responsible Austrian military priest of the Military Religious Service for the granting of the space of the Holy Temple and for the kind and friendly hospitality. In addition, the Metropolitan thanked the Protopresbyter Fr. Alexander Lapin for his more than 10 years of service as an Orthodox military Priest and for all his dedicated efforts in the context of these duties and beyond in the Church. Closing his speech, the Metropolitan wished the Priests and all those present the rich blessing and support of God in their efforts.
Then the responsible Austrian Military Priest of the Military Religious Service, Harald Tripp, warmly welcomed the Metropolitan of Austria, referred to the history of cooperation with the Orthodox Religious Service of the Army, and offered him a souvenir.
The Protopresbyter Fr. Alexander Lapin also thanked the Metropolitan for his visit and the support he has provided to date. As a souvenir, for this first visit and as an expression of continuous unity in prayer, he presented him with an Icon of St. Mercurius, patron saint of the Parish of the Orthodox Religious Service of the Army.