With the blessing of Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia, a prayer rite of thanksgiving was served on the occasion of the Greek Independence Day, at the Patriarchal Chapel of St. Simeon the Myrrh-gusher in Belgrade, on March 25, 2021.
The prayer ceremony, which has traditionally been celebrated by the Greek community in Belgrade for more than five decades, was attended by the Ambassador of the Republic of Greece, George Diakofotakis and his associates, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus, Dimitrios Teofilaktu and his associates.
The prayerful rite of thanksgiving was celebrated by presbyter Panayotis Karatasios with the concelebration of archdeacon Stevan Rapajic and hierodeacon Sava (Bundalo), while the choir singing was led by deacon Vladimir Antic.
After the prayerful rite, Patriarch Porfirije hosted a reception for the ambassadors of Greece and Cyprus and their associates. The reception was attended by members of the Holy Synod of Bishops: Bishops Irinej of Backa, Jovan of Sumadija, and David of Krusevac; as well as Bishop Nikodim of Dalmatia.
The ambassadors of Greece and Cyprus expressed their gratitude to the Serbian Orthodox Church for the prayerful celebration of the Greek national holiday in the Patriarchal Chapel in Belgrade.
Source: Serbian Orthodox Church