On June 26, 2024, Serbian Patriarch Porfirije celebrated the Inter-Orthodox Divine Liturgy at the Church of Saint Petka in Požarevac, marking the thirtieth anniversaryof Bishop Ignatius of Braničevo’s archbishopric service. The event was co-celebrated by numerous esteemed clergy, highlighting the unity and shared faith of the Orthodox community.
The distinguished co-celebrants included Metropolitan Maximos of Selyvria from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Archbishop Makarios of Qatar from the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Metropolitans Ignatios of Demetrias and Almyros, and Gregorios of Peristeri from the Church of Greece, Metropolitan Georgios of Mikhailovsky-Košice from the Church of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Metropolitan John of Kruševo, and Bishop Markos of Delčev-Kamenica from the Archdiocese of Ohrid, along with Hierarchs from the Church of Serbia.
During his homily, Patriarch Porfirije reflected on the significance of the gathering. He emphasized the unity and common purpose shared by the attendees, despite their diverse backgrounds, stating:
“God has granted us the grace to gather here in Požarevac on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of our brother and co-celebrant, Bishop Ignatius. We have come together in the spirit of Pentecost from various regions. Although we communicate in different languages, our souls beat with the same rhythm. Our minds and hearts are aligned, resonating with the same language spoken by the Holy Apostle Paul from Jerusalem, which is the language of the Holy Spirit, the language of faith, and the language of love. May the Lord allow us to continue gathering in this spirit, always and everywhere, to glorify Him in the name of the Holy Trinity.”
The celebration underscored the deep sense of community and spiritual connection that defines the Orthodox faith, honoring both the past achievements and future aspirations of Bishop Ignatius’ ministry.
Source: Serbian Patriarchate