Bishop Irenei Greeted the New Serbian Orthodox Bishop for the UK on His Enthronement in England by Patriarch Porphyri.

24 Nov, 2024 | British Isles News and Events, Inter-Orthodox Relations

11 / 24 NOVEMBER 2024: On the 22nd Sunday after Pentecost, a new Bishop was enthroned for the Serbian Orthodox Church’s diocese in the British Isles. His Grace Bishop Nektarije was installed in his new cathedra in London by his Holiness Patriarch Porphyri and a large number of members of the Sobor of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, who had travelled to England for the occasion.

His Grace Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe, who was unable to accept the Patriarchate’s kind invitation to take part in the festivities on account of his being abroad over the weekend, was represented by the Diocesan Chancellor, Archpriest Paul Elliott.

During the celebrations after the Liturgy and enthronement, Father Paul read a greeting from Bishop Irenei, which included the following:

”Dear in Christ, Vladyka Nektarije: On this day of Your Grace’s enthronement in the newly-established cathedra of London and the British Isles, of the God-preserved Serbian Orthodox Church, I send You my warmest fraternal greetings and the assurance of my heartfelt prayers.

”The bonds between the Serbian Orthodox Church and our Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia are longstanding, intimate, and we pray unbreakable. We rejoiced when we heard that His Holiness Patriarch Porphyri and the Holy Synod had blessed the formation of a new Serbian diocese for these islands, and it was our happiness to spend time with Your Grace in Belgrade and elsewhere during our visit to Serbia earlier this year. It is my fervent prayer that Your installation as head of the Serbian Orthodox community in the British Isles will bring energy and zeal to the pastoral labours carried out for its faithful, and will mark a new period of fraternal interaction amongst our communities, which have lived, prayed and rejoiced together in the United Kingdom and Ireland for many generations.

”As once You in Your kindness welcomed me to Serbia, I now humbly, but wholly joyfully, welcome you to London and the British Isles. Soon it will be my happiness to greet you in person; but today, may I join my voice to many others who rejoice in Your enthronement. May Your works, and ours, be ever blessed by our loving Lord!”