Patriarch Irinej of Serbian was welcomed on January 8, 2020, in front of the Bishop’s court in Banja Luka by Bishop Jefrem of Banja Luka, Prime Minister of the Republika Srpska Radovan Viskovic and Serbian Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Milorad Dodik.
The reception of the Patriarch was attended by Bishops Fotije of Zvornik-Tuzla and Sergije of Bihac Petrovac, Minister of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska Dragan Lukac, Director of the Republika Srpska Secretariat for Religions Dragan Davidovic, Mayor of Banja Luka Igor Radojicic, Chief of the Serbian Club in the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina Nenad Stevandic and many faithful.
In the church of Holy Trinity the solemn doxology in honour of the Serbian Patriarch Irinej was served by protopresbyter-staurophor Vojo Balaban, protodeacon Cedo Vranic and deacon Zoran Djuradj. The Serbian Patriarch said on this occasion: – Unity, faith in God and love towards homeland are the most important for the Serbs. I am glad that also this year I am in Banja Luka, in Republika Srpska, to celebrate together the Day of Republika Srpska. We need fellowship most, and that Republika Srpska might overcome all the difficulties because it has stood by the God, Our Lord.
President of Republika Srpska Zeljka Cvijanovic organized a solemn dinner in honour of Patriarch Irinej. The dinner was attended by the member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Milorad Dodik, President of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska Nedeljko Cubrilovic, Prime Minister of Republika Srpska Radovan Viskovic, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zoran Tegeltija, Minister of Defense of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vulin, Ministers in the Government of Republika Srpska and in the Council of Ministers, members of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska and the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina, bishops and clergy of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Ambassadors of Serbia and Russia in BH Aleksandar Djordjevic and Petar Ivancov, representatives of diplomatic corps, dignitaries from public, social and political life.
Source: Serbian Orthodox Church
