Serbian Patriarch Porfirije met with Trump's "spiritual advisor"

On July 3, 2026, a meeting took place at the Patriarchal Palace in Belgrade between Serbian Patriarch Porfirije and the so-called “spiritual advisor” to the U.S. president, Protestant pastor Mark Burns. According to Zivotcrkve.rs, the parties discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the two nations and their Christian communities.

Members of the Holy Synod, including Metropolitan Irinej of Bačka and Metropolitan Jovan of Šumadija, participated in the official talks, which took place in an atmosphere of mutual understanding. The meeting marked an important step in the development of interfaith and diplomatic dialogue.

As part of his visit to Serbia and the Serbian Orthodox Church, Dr. Burns plans to visit a number of Orthodox churches and monasteries. The delegation was accompanied by representatives of the business community and advisors to the Trump administration, including representatives of the organization “Serbs for Trump,” which underscores the significance of the visit for strengthening bilateral ties.

It should be recalled that Mark Burns previously stated that he does not believe the information circulating in the American conservative media regarding the persecution of believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Ukraine. He voiced this position following a personal visit to Ukraine, where he met with “religious leaders.”