Serbian patriarch meets with Croatian president

Serbian Orthidox Church (SPC) Patriarch Irinej, who is on a three-day visit to Croatia, met with archbishop of Zagreb, Croatian president and PM on Friday. Belgrade and Zagreb have assessed that the visit is historic and the SPC delegation traveled to Croatia in order to open a new building of the spiritual center and the Serbian Orthodox Secondary School Kantakuzina Katarina Brankovic. Serbian patriarch meets with Croatian president Croatian President Ivo Josipovic said after the talks with Patriarch Irinej that the SPC delegation's visit contributed to peace and friendship among people, religions and nations. ”I think that in times, that are never easy in these parts, where the crisis often generates feelings that are not in the spirit of peace and reconciliation, contacts between churches, believers, talks and dialogue mean a lot for peace and reconciliation,” he pointed out. “Croatia will continue to protect religious rights of its citizens of all religions, including the SPC,” Josipovic told reporters. Irinej said that he was pleased he had an opportunity to meet with top officials of the Croatian state and church “and that way show a good will to continue our common life”. “We were invited as a church, we have good contacts and relations with all people, especially with Croatia, which is a Catholic country, and it is known that Catholics and we Orthodox believers are very close and there are a lot of things that bring us together, that are common in our faith, in principles that we adhere to and it is our wish to confirm that in our contacts and talks,” the Serbian patriarch stressed. “We wish Croatian people and our Serbian people living here, our church to be as close as possible, because we are Christian people,” he stressed and added that others should be given the opportunity to see that “we adhere to principles of our religion”. Irinej said that the SPC had useful talks in Zagreb that concerned the Serbian people and church in Croatia. “There are many good things that should be supported, that are present, and there are also some other problems, like everywhere, but we hope that everything can be solved in the best possible way with good will and good mood. We want that and we are doing it and we hope that our visit will have positive effects,” the SPC head pointed out. He pointed out the importance of the opening of the new building of the spiritual center and the Serbian Orthodox Secondary School Kantakuzina Katarina Brankovic. “This represents a good basis and addition to our relations and contacts that have existed so far and I hope that they will be stronger and more solid in the future,” Irinej concluded. The SPC dignitaries on Friday morning met with Archbishop of Zagreb Cardinal Josip Bozanic. Aside from the patriarch, Bishop of Srem Vasilije, Bishop of Backa Irinej and Bishop of Sumadija Jovan also attended the meeting. The SPC delegation also had a meeting with Croatia's Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic. Ivo Josipovic and Patriarch Irinej (Beta) B92 Beta Tanjug

Serbian patriarch meets with Croatian president

Croatian President Ivo Josipović said after the talks with Patriarch Irinej that the SPC delegation's visit contributed to peace and friendship among people, religions and nations.

”I think that in times, that are never easy in these parts, where the crisis often generates feelings that are not in the spirit of peace and reconciliation, contacts between churches, believers, talks and dialogue mean a lot for peace and reconciliation,” he pointed out.

“Croatia will continue to protect religious rights of its citizens of all religions, including the SPC,” Josipović told reporters.

Irinej said that he was pleased he had an opportunity to meet with top officials of the Croatian state and church “and that way show a good will to continue our common life”.

“We were invited as a church, we have good contacts and relations with all people, especially with Croatia, which is a Catholic country, and it is known that Catholics and we Orthodox believers are very close and there are a lot of things that bring us together, that are common in our faith, in principles that we adhere to and it is our wish to confirm that in our contacts and talks,” the Serbian patriarch stressed.

“We wish Croatian people and our Serbian people living here, our church to be as close as possible, because we are Christian people,” he stressed and added that others should be given the opportunity to see that “we adhere to principles of our religion”.

Irinej said that the SPC had useful talks in Zagreb that concerned the Serbian people and church in Croatia.

“There are many good things that should be supported, that are present, and there are also some other problems, like everywhere, but we hope that everything can be solved in the best possible way with good will and good mood. We want that and we are doing it and we hope that our visit will have positive effects,” the SPC head pointed out.

He pointed out the importance of the opening of the new building of the spiritual center and the Serbian Orthodox Secondary School Kantakuzina Katarina Branković.

“This represents a good basis and addition to our relations and contacts that have existed so far and I hope that they will be stronger and more solid in the future,” Irinej concluded.

The SPC dignitaries on Friday morning met with Archbishop of Zagreb Cardinal Josip Božanić. Aside from the patriarch, Bishop of Srem Vasilije, Bishop of Bačka Irinej and Bishop of Šumadija Jovan also attended the meeting.

The SPC delegation also had a meeting with Croatia's Prime Minister Zoran Milanović.