As part of his visit to the Diocese of Britain and Ireland on November 22, 2024, Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia, accompanied by his ecclesiastical entourage—which included Metropolitan Dositej of Scandinavia; Bishop Isihije of Valjevo and Bishop-elect Nektarios of London and Britain-Ireland; Archpriest Stavrophor Dragan Lazić, Dean of the London Cathedral of Saint Sava; and Dr. Vladimir Roganović, Director of the Office for Cooperation with Churches and Religious Communities—was received at Lambeth Palace by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, together with Edward Ferguson, United Kingdom Ambassador to Serbia.
The Archbishop of Canterbury extended a warm welcome to the Patriarch and his entourage, offering special wishes for the successful archpastoral ministry of Bishop-elect Nektarios, who will be enthroned on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
The meeting between the primates of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Church of England took place in a cordial atmosphere.
On this occasion, the Archbishop of Canterbury presented the Serbian Patriarch with an original 1915 edition of a book by Saint Nikolaj Velimirović, Bishop of Žiča and Ohrid, bearing his personal signature and dedication, which speaks of the suffering of the Serbian people during the Great War. The deep connection between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Church of England during that dramatic period, as well as their good relations between the two world wars, was especially emphasized.
As a reciprocal gift, the Patriarch presented the host with a handcrafted wooden cross.
Patriarch Porfirije emphasized that the Serbian Orthodox Church will never forget that during and after World War I, the Anglican Church offered its churches to Serbian priests, as well as the fact that in the early years following World War II, and in subsequent years, many Serbian families in England were welcomed and found a permanent place of residence.
The hierarchs agreed that the dialogue and relations between the two Christian Churches should continue to develop, building upon the foundations established by Saint Nikolaj Velimirović.
Source: spc.sr
