Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina, November 7, 2023
Photo: spc.rs
His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of the Serbian Orthodox Church concluded his pastoral visit to Argentina over the weekend, the highlight being the consecration of a new church in the north of the country.
The Serbian primate arrived in the South American country on Thursday, November 2, accompanied by Bishops Arsenije of Niš, Nikodim of Dalmati, and Stefan of Remesija.
After being greeted at the airport by Bp. Kirilo of Buenos Aires and South and Central America, the Patriarch traveled to the St. Sava Monastery in Buenos Aires, where a doxology was served.
Photo: spc.rs
In his greetings, Bp. Kirilo noted that the Buenos Aires Diocese was founded by His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro of blessed memory, and today the Serbian Church has a presence not only in Argentina, but also in Brazil, Chile, Venezuela, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Panama, and San Martin.
In his speech, the Patriarch called for prayers for peace in Ukraine, Israel and Palestine, and Kosovo and Metohija.
Photo: spc.rs
During his time in Buenos Aires, the Patriarch and his delegation visited the local Catholic hierarch and the Serbian embassy.
On Saturday, November 4, His Holiness was solemnly welcomed at St. Nicholas Monastery in Machagai, in the northern Chaco Province, where another doxology was served with the participation of local clergy and faithful.
The culmination of the Patriarch’s visit came on Sunday, when he consecrated Holy Trinity Church in Resistencia, Chaco Province. In addition to the aforementioned hierarchs, he was joined by His Grace Bishop Metodije of Budimlja and Nikšić, His Grace Bishop Stefan of Remesiana, and His Grace Bishop Leonid of Argentina and South America of the Moscow Patriarchate.
Photo: spc.rs
The Patriarch preached:
In the church that we consecrated today, the Holy Liturgy will be served, during which we become participants of eternity, and all that is ours, especially our communion and love, in the house of God and in the community with God becomes eternal.
In the church, we are baptized; in the church, we are married and enter into matrimony; in the church, we confess and repent; in the church, we say our goodbyes to our loved ones who leave us for the embrace of God; and we do all this together with God, for Christ our Savior Himself is present in the church. He is present when we serve the Holy Liturgy, and by grace, we become Christ at the Holy Liturgy.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are joyful today because this city has received its Orthodox soul. Until now, there was only an Orthodox body here, but with the consecration of the church, the city has also received an Orthodox soul and people.
Although the seeds were sown by Serbs, the Church is open and welcomes every person regardless of where they were born and which nation they belong to. The Gospel calls us to be one people, the people of God, by striving to make the Gospel our life, to make the commandments of Christ our guidelines.
For all this, brothers and sisters, I embrace you all in Christ the Lord and rejoice that we are praying together today. We thank God that you exist and that you testify of Christ first and foremost, and then you who have come from, as we say, the Old Regions, you also testify to the culture and spirituality of the Serbian people, but no less are you members of this land, its people, and its culture. We are grateful to all who have contributed through prayer, effort, and donations to the building of this church.
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