20.10.2017.
Ministers Vulin and Shoigu visit Church of Saint Sava
Ministers of Defence of the Republic of Serbia and the Russian Federation Aleksandar Vulin and Sergei Shoigu, respectively, visited the Church of Saint Sava at Vračar this afternoon, where they met with the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church Irinei.
The distinguished Russian guest symbolically placed a pebble in a part of the mosaic composition that will decorate the mosaic on the dome of the Church.
After visiting the crypt of the Church of Saint Sava and a short programme in the performance of the State Academic Russian People's Choir, the Patriarch informed the ministers about the progress of the construction works, and stressed that he was honoured to have the opportunity to personally and on behalf of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Serbian people, greet the distinguished guest from brotherly Russia in the Serbian sanctuary.
- With this church, the Serbian people wish to thank the Saint Sava and pay tribute for his great work. The construction is the work of our people, but not only of them, but also of our great friends, Orthodox churches, including the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox people headed by President Putin - Patriarch Irinei said, adding that the Russian President, when he was in Serbia, several years ago, visited the church under construction and asked him - who will finish this great job.- I said - the Serbian people, as much as they can, Divine Grace and Providence, and you as our friends, the Russian people. President Putin replied to this - “it will be so”, and thank God that the announced support from the brotherly Russian people is being carried out smoothly, and the Serbian Church still hopes for that assistance, and the great mosaic will be a great contribution and great help, the Serbian patriarch said and reminded that the Greek Orthodox Church and other Orthodox churches also participate in the construction of the church, "so the temple will be the work of the entire Orthodox Church."
Patriarch Irinei pointed out that he believed that after leaving, Minister Shoigu would be an interpreter of our needs and the need to paint this Holy Church, and that it is a huge work, but since many people are taking part in it, he hopes that in such a short time, it will be successfully completed.Thanking to the welcome, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said that it is visible that a lot of strength and a lot of souls have been invested in the construction of the church, and that he would like that much of Russian heart and soul be embedded there, and confirmed that he himself would pledge for that.
Minister Shoigu presented the Serbian Patriarch with the Russian icon of the Holy Virgin for the Church of Saint Sava.
