Meeting of the Primates of the Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches Held in Moscow

On April 22, 2025, a meeting took place between His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ and His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia at the Patriarchal and Synodal Residence in the Danilov Monastery (Moscow). Details of the meeting are available on the official website of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Representing the Russian Orthodox Church were Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, Bishop Alexy of Ramenskoye, Protopresbyters Nikolai Balashov and Igor Yakimchuk, Hegumen Theophan (Lukyanov), and other officials. Patriarch Porfirije was accompanied by hierarchs of the Serbian Church, including Metropolitan Irinej of Bačka, Bishop Stefan of Remesiana, Archimandrite Hariton (Pavlica), and clergy.

Before the start of the official talks, the hierarchs visited the house chapel of the Patriarchal Residence. In his welcoming remarks, Patriarch Kirill emphasized the absence of any divisions between the Russian and Serbian Churches throughout their historical relations, highlighting their shared experience of suffering and persecution, as well as unity in understanding the pastoral mission of the Church in today’s secularized world.

“The mission of our fraternal Churches is especially needed today,” Patriarch Kirill stated. “People are being influenced by false ideals of comfort and material success, while Christian values are often pushed into the background.”

In response, Patriarch Porfirije expressed his joy at the meeting during the days of Bright Week, stressing: “The Resurrection of Christ is an unchanging truth that gives hope in spite of all trials.”

A special topic of discussion was the awarding of the honorary doctorate from the Moscow Theological Academy to Patriarch Porfirije. Patriarch Kirill noted that this decision acknowledges the high theological authority of the Primate of the Serbian Church and his contribution to spiritual education and ecclesiastical enlightenment. In turn, Patriarch Porfirije emphasized the importance of theology as an authentic form of church life, inseparably connected with prayer and liturgical experience.

During their fraternal conversation, the Primates discussed a broad range of topics, including inter-Church relations, the state of pan-Orthodox unity, challenges in contemporary theology, and the need for joint efforts in the field of spiritual education.

It is worth recalling that His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ recently issued his Paschal greeting to the Primates of the Local Orthodox Churches. The greetings were sent to all Orthodox Church leaders, except those of the Churches of Constantinople, Alexandria, Cyprus, and Greece.