15. July 2017 – 21:23
His Holiness Patriarch Irinej, head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, while on
a stopover in New York on his way the canonization of St. Mardarije in
Libertyville, visited the site of Saint Sava Cathedral which was devastated
in a fire on Pascha last year.
His Holiness urged all Serbian-Americans, as their ancestors before them
throughout our Serbian lands, to support this reconstruction effort and to
restore the Cathedral to its former glory. The Patriarch urged the
immediate removal of the debris and enclosing of the structure as soon as
possible.
The Serbian Patriarch was met at the Cathedral site by His Eminence
Archbishop Demetrios, head of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and
Chairman of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of America.
His Grace Bishop Irinej of Eastern America, the diocesan hierarch,
accompanied the Patriarch and Archbishop, and briefed them on reconstruction
plans during the visit.
Consul General of Serbia, Mirjana Zivković, secured the appropriate
diplomatic protocol for the visit and helped host His Holiness.
Clergy and representatives of the local parish community were also present
to greet the Patriarch.
*Photo credit: Dimitrios Panagos/Greek Orthodox Archdiocese