Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch Porfirije met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday, thanking him for Russia’s continued support on issues concerning Kosovo, Republika Srpska, and Montenegro.
“I don’t know what would have happened with Kosovo and Metohija if there had been no support from Russia and China,” Porfirije said during the meeting, according to a statement from the Russian Orthodox Church. He added that Serbia’s position on Kosovo and Republika Srpska is influenced by Russia’s stance on the global stage.
“We ask you to maintain that position and do all you can,” Porfirije said. “Without Kosovo and Republika Srpska, the Serbian people have no perspective.”
The patriarch also claimed that Serbia is currently undergoing a “color revolution,” expressing hope that the country will overcome what he called a “trial.”
Putin: Russia-Serbia Relations ‘Warmest and Closest’
Putin described Russia’s relationship with Serbia as “the warmest and closest of allied ties,” and said he expected Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić to visit Moscow on May 9 for the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War.
“We are aware of the complex situation in the Balkans and your efforts to strengthen Serbia’s position,” Putin said, according to Russian news agency RIA Novosti.
He praised the Serbian Orthodox Church for its role in fostering relations between the Russian and Serbian peoples. “The Serbian Orthodox Church makes a significant contribution to strengthening ties between our nations,” Putin said.
During the meeting, Patriarch Porfirije gifted Putin a traditional Easter egg inscribed with “Christ is Risen” in Serbian, telling him it was from the Monastery of the Resurrection. Putin responded by congratulating the Serbian patriarch on Easter. “Let me congratulate you on the holiday of Bright Easter. It is our shared, sacred holiday,” he said.
The meeting was also attended by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, and Serbian Orthodox Church Metropolitan Irinej.
Church Leaders Highlight Historical Ties
Earlier in the day, Patriarch Kirill met with Porfirije at the Danilov Monastery in Moscow. “Our churches have always had mutual love and fraternal support,” Kirill said, according to a statement from the Moscow Patriarchate.
Porfirije said the strong relationship between the Serbian and Russian Orthodox Churches sets an example for Orthodox believers worldwide. “Such a relationship can even be viewed as one Church,” he noted.
Kirill emphasized that the two nations share not only linguistic, cultural, and historical ties but also a legacy of suffering, particularly during the 20th century. “This shared historical experience unites our Churches,” he said.
Porfirije to Receive Honorary Doctorate in Moscow
Porfirije is on a multi-day visit to Moscow during Bright Week. As part of the visit, the Moscow Theological Academy will award him an honorary doctorate in theology for his contribution to theological education and strengthening ties between the sister Churches.
On April 25, the two patriarchs will co-celebrate a Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Assumption in the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius. Porfirije will also visit Serbian Church institutions and major monasteries and churches in Moscow.
The Serbian delegation includes Archbishop Irinej of Novi Sad, Archimandrite Hariton of Kovilj Monastery, and other high-ranking clerics. The delegation was received at Sheremetyevo Airport by Metropolitan Anthony and Serbian Ambassador Momčilo Babić.
Let me know if you’d like a shorter version or headline-focused summary.
