An agreement was signed in Belgrade on the continuation of Russian participation in the beautification of the Cathedral of St. Sava

An agreement was signed in Belgrade on the continuation of Russian participation in the beautification of the Cathedral of St. Sava В Белграде состоялось подписание соглашения о продолжении российского участия в благоукрашении собора святителя Саввы print version March 25, 2019 11:37 On March 23, 2019, a ceremony was held at the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Belgrade to sign an agreement to continue Russian participation in the mosaic design of St. Savva’s Cathedral on Vracar, the largest church of the Serbian Orthodox Church , named after its founder and first Primate, Archbishop of Serbian Savva ( † 1236). The agreement provides for the transfer of charitable assistance to the Serbian Orthodox Church to cover the costs associated with the mosaic decoration of the altar of the Cathedral of Saint Sava. From the Serbian Orthodox Church, the document was signed by the Most Holy Patriarch of Serbia, Irinei , and from the benefactor, Gazpromneft Joint-Stock Company, the general director of the Foundation for Social Initiatives “Hometown” O.V. Andreeva. Participants of the ceremony were warmly welcomed by the head of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, compatriots living abroad, and for international humanitarian cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo) E.V. Mitrofanova. “In Russia, cultural affinity between our peoples is very much appreciated, and work on the decoration of the interior of the church of Saint Sava is one of the clearest manifestations of these feelings,” she said, noting that, in accordance with the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation, Rossotrudnichestvo is the coordinator of this project and make every effort to ensure that this temple appears before the thousands of believers in all its glory as soon as possible. E.V. Mitrofanova expressed confidence that this temple is of great importance not only for believers living in Serbia and Russia, but also for the entire Orthodox world. “It is symbolic that our event takes place on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the start of the NATO military operation against the Republic of Yugoslavia,” she said. - The memory of these events makes us with a special feeling and deep responsibility to treat the issues of preserving the unshakable values ​​of peace, harmony and mutual respect. It seems to me not accidental that an example of the joint efforts of Russia and Serbia is such a constructive and pious deed as the decoration of the interior of this magnificent temple. I am sure that by our joint work, combining faith, knowledge and creativity, we will contribute to this common noble cause. ” Then came the speech of the Secretary General of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Serbia, N. Selakovic. In his conviction, the continuation of works on the decoration of the church of St. Savva of Serbia will be "a confirmation of the proximity of the Serbian and Russian peoples, the friendly states of Serbia and Russia." “I am very grateful that we are building this temple together,” said N. Selakovich. “It will be a place of prayers, a place of peace, a place where our fraternal unity will be established.” The Russian Orthodox Church at the event on behalf of Metropolitan Hilarion of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate was represented by Archpriest Nikolai Balashov , DECR vice-chairman, who addressed the audience with a welcoming speech. It noted the outstanding importance of the Cathedral of St. Sava for the Serbian Orthodox Church and the peoples who had been nourished by it, which manifested itself with particular force in the days of the bombing of Belgrade that began 20 years ago by NATO forces. The Russian Orthodox Church and its faithful children in those terrible days were in their heart and soul with their fellow Serbian brothers, Father Nikolai reminded. “The Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy, the blessed intimates , в visited the capital of Yugoslavia and Radonitsu - on the day of the Paschal commemoration of the departed - in April 1999, together with the ever-memorable Patriarch Serbian Pavel, the Divine Liturgy in the St. Savva Cathedral under construction. Many thousands of people gathered then for a memorial prayer under his vaults, and even more - on the square in front of the temple, where the divine service ended. For these people, as well as for many millions of Orthodox Serbs, the temple, built up by several generations, became an image of the spiritual home of Serbian Orthodoxy, a symbol of the rebirth of faith, an ark of hope and salvation. For me and my compatriots, it is a great honor that now the Russian state, the Russian people, the Russian Orthodox Church have been participating in the beautification of this magnificent cathedral for a number of years, ”the deputy chairman of the DECR said. Expressing gratitude on behalf of the Russian Orthodox Church to the leadership of the Russian company Gazprom Neft for the generous donation to create the mosaic decoration of the altar of the Cathedral of St. Savva in Belgrade, Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, in particular, said: “The altar is the most important and most sacred part of the Orthodox church; a heart; to him every man who crosses the threshold of the church directs his gaze. We are confident that friendship and mutual support of Russia and Serbia, the Russian Orthodox Church and the Serbian Orthodox Church occupy the same place in our lives - the core and the sacred. ” In his closing remarks, His Holiness the Patriarch of Serbia Irinei called the signing of an agreement to continue decorating the church of Saint Sava, a historic moment, as a historic moment. “Russian and Serbian peoples are connected not only by friendship - they are united and brought together by faith, historical and cultural heritage,” said His Holiness. - Russia is a powerful state, you are a big people. We are a small people, but the Serbs have always tied their small boat to the great Russian ship. ” His Holiness Patriarch Iriney also noted the importance of fraternal ties between the Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches. His Holiness noted with gratitude the contribution of all those who took part in this charitable work, highlighting the participation of the Russian state and the Russian Orthodox Church in the project, noting the charitable assistance from Gazprom Neft. “We will never forget your participation,” testified the Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church. “And not only we — history will never forget this.” We will convey a feeling of gratitude for this help to the next generations. ” “When the construction of the Cathedral of Saint Sava is completed, it will not only be our church - it will be a church in both Serbia and Russia,” said His Holiness Patriarch Irenaeus. His Holiness paid special attention to the significance of the construction of this magnificent and beautiful cathedral in our days, when spiritual values ​​are supplanted from the life of the modern world. “Already, tourists who come to Serbia are asked to show them the temple of Saint Sava. But it is still under construction, and I can guess what the interest of all people will be when its beautification will be fully completed. I think it will be a miracle of faith that will serve the glory of Orthodoxy, ”said His Holiness Patriarch Serbian Irenaeus. The signing ceremony was also attended by the senior priest of the Cathedral of Saint Savva in Belgrade, Bishop Stephen Remezyansky, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Serbia AV Chepurin, Minister of Innovation of Serbia N. Popovich, rector of the Compound of the Russian Orthodox Church in Belgrade, Archpriest Vitaly Tarasyev, Vice-President of the Moscow International Foundation for UNESCO UNESCO M.V. Popova, as well as People's Artist of the Russian Federation N.A. Mukhin - the head of the group of artists engaged in the implementation of the project of creating the internal mosaic of the Cathedral of St. Sava. On the same day, Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, accompanied by N.A. Mukhina and M.V. Popova got acquainted with the course of artwork in the church of St. Sava and had a conversation with his rector, Bishop of Remezyan Stephan, and also visited the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity, the compound of the Russian Orthodox Church in Belgrade, where large-scale restoration is currently underway, and discussed with Archpriest Vitaly Tarasiev. further development of cooperation between the Moscow and Serbian Patriarchates.