Patriarch meets with Russian envoy

Serbian Patriarch Irinej conferred in Belgrade Patriarchate on Tuesday with Russian Ambassador to Serbia Aleksandr Konuzin. The reason for the meeting is reported to have been the visit of the recently defrocked bishop Artemije to the Russian embassy in Belgrade. Patriarch meets with Russian envoy The patriarch received Konuzin at the ambassador's personal request, a release by the patriarch's cabinet notes, adding that Konuzin expressed regret that his meeting with monk Artemije, which took place at the initiative by the former bishop, was misinterpreted. “He received uninvited guests as he did not wish to turn them away at the very doorstep, although they abused their host's kindness. Having heard them out, the host told them that church matters and problems need to be solved exclusively within the church and not on the street, and added that it is not to him to solve their problems,” said the statement issued by the Serbian Orthodox Church patriarchate. Earlier on Tuesday, monk Artemije told Tanjug that he conferred with Konuzin late on Monday at the ambassador's request, and that their conversation referred to "current issues".

Patriarch meets with Russian envoy

The patriarch received Konuzin at the ambassador's personal request, a release by the patriarch's cabinet notes, adding that Konuzin expressed regret that his meeting with monk Artemije, which took place at the initiative by the former bishop, was misinterpreted.

“He received uninvited guests as he did not wish to turn them away at the very doorstep, although they abused their host's kindness. Having heard them out, the host told them that church matters and problems need to be solved exclusively within the church and not on the street, and added that it is not to him to solve their problems,” said the statement issued by the Serbian Orthodox Church patriarchate.

Earlier on Tuesday, monk Artemije told Tanjug that he conferred with Konuzin late on Monday at the ambassador's request, and that their conversation referred to "current issues".