Moscow, March 18, 2024
Photo: patriarchia.ru
The Patriarchs of the Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches concelebrated the funeral of the long-time Serbian Church representative in Moscow on Saturday, March 16.
His Grace Bishop Antonije of Moravica, who had headed the Serbian Church’s podvoriye in Moscow since 2002, reposed in the Lord on March 11 at the age of 54.
His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije and his accompanying entourage of hierarchs and clergy arrived in Moscow on March 15, and later that day, they visited Holy Protection Monastery to venerate the relics of the internationally revered St. Matrona of Moscow, reports the Russian Orthodox Church.
Photo: patriarchia.ru
The next morning, Patriarchs Kirill and Porfirije led the Divine Liturgy and funeral for Bp. Antonije at Christ the Savior Cathedral together with the members of the Serbian delegation, host of Russian hierarchs and clergy, and the representatives to the Russian Church from the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia and the Orthodox Church in America.
During the litany for the departed, prayers were offered both for Bp. Antonije and for the newly reposed Patriarch Neofit of Bulgaria.
Before the start of the funeral, Pat. Kirill spoke of how Bp. Antonije truly loved the Russian Church and people and how they truly loved him.
The funeral was served in Church Slavonic and Serbian. Watch the service below:
Following the funeral, Bp. Antonije was laid to rest at the Serbian Orthodox representation Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in Moscow.
A memorial meal was then held, during which both Patriarchs spoke of the extremely close fraternal relations between the Russian and Serbian Churches and peoples.
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