The General Secretary of the World Council of Churches at the Patriarchate of Serbia
His Beatitude Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia, together with His Eminence Metropolitan Ignatije of Braničevo, a member of the Holy Synod of Bishops, received Dr. Jerry Pillay, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, who was accompanied by Dr. Andrej Jeftić, director of the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches.
The discussions were open and constructive, focusing on various aspects of interchurch relations and the current challenges facing the churches worldwide. Patriarch Porfirije expressed his gratitude to the World Council of Churches for its efforts to promote peace and inter-Christian cooperation for the benefit of all peoples. The general secretary assured the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church of the continued support and solidarity of the WCC. The meeting emphasised the need to further develop mutual relations rooted in the era of St. Nikolaj of Žiča and Ohrid in order to strengthen inter-Christian solidarity, foster the spirit of unity, and continue cooperation in addressing various social challenges of our time.
The General Secretary also addressed the difficult situation in Kosovo and Metohija, expressing solidarity with the Serbian people and their Church for the hardships and tragedies they have endured in recent years. He noted that the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches had decided to visit the Serbian Orthodox Church in 2023 as part of the “Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace” initiative in light of the difficult circumstances facing the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo and Metohija.
In this context, Patriarch Porfirije recalled that he was twice denied entry to the territory of the southern Serbian province, although he is not involved in the political dialogue, and he continues to pray equally for all the peoples of Kosovo and Metohija.
In response to Rev. Pillay’s question about how the World Council of Churches could help the Serbian Orthodox Church overcome its challenges, Patriarch Porfirije said that any form of support would be welcome, as the resolution of these issues requires the support of the international community, which is sometimes lacking. He particularly emphasised the importance of the efforts of the World Council of Churches to provide an international platform for dialogue.
The meeting was attended by Vicar Bishop Ilarion of Novo Brdo; Archimandrite Nektarije, Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod of Bishops; Protopresbyter Đorđe Stojisavljević, Head of the Cabinet of the Serbian Patriarch; Mr. Nikola Mutavdžić, Head of the Office of the Serbian Patriarch. Nikola Mutavdžić, Referent for Inter-Church Affairs of the Holy Synod of Bishops; and Mrs. Olivera Jovanović, Editor-in-Chief of “Pravoslavlje”, the newspaper of the Serbian Patriarchate.
During the day, the WCC delegation visited the Museum of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Church of St. Sava in Vračar, where Rev. Pillay met with professors and students of the Theological Faculty in Belgrade.
The first day of the Secretary General’s visit to the Serbian Orthodox Church concluded with the opening of the exhibition “The World Council of Churches and the Serbian Orthodox Church (1948-1991)” in the Ceremonial Hall of the Saint Sava Home in Zemun. The exhibition, based on documentary material, official correspondence, photographs, and posters, was organised by the Archives of the Serbian Orthodox Church to highlight the decades of fruitful and beneficial cooperation between the Patriarchate of Serbia and the World Council of Churches.
Source: Patriarchate of Serbia
