Source: Orthodox Church in America
In the second half of February, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon appointed a delegation to visit three Orthodox autocephalous Churches. These visits—to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, and the Serbian Orthodox Church—were primarily intended to maintain and further develop fraternal relationships.
On February 19, 2025, Archpriest Alessandro Margheritino, Acting Chancellor and Secretary of the Orthodox Church in America, traveled with Archpriest Alexander Rentel, former Chancellor and COO at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, to Istanbul for a visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
While in Constantinople and at the Phanar, the delegation met with hierarchs and members of the Patriarchal Court, including His Eminence Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, engaging in discussions on a range of topics, including the relationship between the two Churches, areas of cooperation, the World Council of Churches, and issues concerning Orthodoxy in North America.
On Friday, February 21, the delegation was received in audience by His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew. Fr. Alessandro and Fr. Alexander conveyed the greetings of Metropolitan Tikhon. His All-Holiness and the delegation discussed various topics, including the life of the Church in North America.
The delegation attended the Divine Liturgy in the sanctuary of the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George on the morning of February 22, Memorial Saturday, where they received the Holy Mysteries. They also attended the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, February 23, at St. Nicholas of Myra Church in Cibali in the presence of His All-Holiness.
During their stay, Patriarch Bartholomew extended warm hospitality to the delegation, hosting Fr. Alessandro and Fr. Alexander for lunch on both Friday and Sunday. He also extended an invitation to His Beatitude to visit Constantinople at his convenience.
On Monday, February 24, Fr. Alexander returned to the United States, while Fr. Alessandro traveled to Sofia, Bulgaria. Joining him in Sofia was His Grace Bishop Gerasim of Fort Worth and Auxiliary to the Diocese of the South, who had traveled from Texas.
His Grace and Fr. Alessandro visited key sites in Sofia, including the Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky.
On Tuesday, February 25, the delegation was received in audience by His Holiness Patriarch Daniil at the Patriarchal Palace. They conveyed greetings from His Beatitude and congratulations on His Holiness’ election last summer. Having served in the United States as an auxiliary bishop, Patriarch Daniil is well acquainted with the Orthodox landscape in North America. Their discussion covered topics of common interest, world Orthodoxy, opportunities for cooperation, a potential future pilgrimage, and the crisis in Ukraine. Patriarch Daniil also spoke about the challenges and opportunities facing the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Both the Patriarch and the delegation affirmed the importance of continued cooperation and common prayer for peace and unity in the Church. The delegation presented gifts to His Holiness on behalf of His Beatitude, and in return, Patriarch Daniil presented books on the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and its saints to His Grace and Fr. Alessandro.
On Wednesday, February 26, Bishop Gerasim and Fr. Alessandro traveled to Belgrade for the third and final visit of the delegation. They were warmly welcomed at Nikola Tesla Airport by Patriarchal Vicar Bishop Dositeji and hosted at a hotel near St. Sava Cathedral.
That evening, His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije hosted the delegation for dinner at the parish house of St. Sava Cathedral. Present at the gathering were several hierarchs and clergy of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Serbian dignitaries, as well as His Eminence Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, and Archpriest Nikolay Balashov, vice-chairman of DECR, who were concluding their visit to Serbia. The presence of both delegations provided an opportunity for greetings and discussions on shared concerns.
The following day, Bishop Gerasim and Fr. Alessandro visited the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. Michael and the Patriarchal Museum before being received in audience by His Holiness at the Patriarchal Palace. Patriarch Porfirije warmly welcomed the delegation and asked to convey his own greetings to Metropolitan Tikhon. Their discussion covered topics including the work and life of the Orthodox Church in America, pan-Orthodox cooperation in North America, the Assembly of Bishops, world Orthodoxy, the Macedonian Orthodox Church, the importance of unity in the Church, and the crisis in Ukraine. They also discussed the possibility of a future visit by His Beatitude to Serbia and a meeting between His Holiness and His Beatitude in Washington, D.C., when travel to America can be arranged.
On behalf of His Beatitude, the delegation presented His Holiness with a palitza depicting St. Olga of Alaska. They also discussed the life of Matushka Olga and her upcoming canonization in June. Fr. Alessandro presented Patriarch Porfirije with a copy of the new translation of the Psalter, published jointly by St. Tikhon’s Monastery Press and St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, as well as a copy of new English translation of The Journal of Joy by Nicolae Steinhardt.
On Friday, Bishop Gerasim and Fr. Alessandro were accompanied by His Grace Bishop Hilarion of Novi Brda, on a guided tour of St. Sava Cathedral, where they admired its magnificent Byzantine-style architecture adorned with 17,000 square meters of gold mosaic. They visited the cathedral crypt and prayed at the tomb of the late Patriarch Irinej. Bishop Hilarion then led the delegation to Vavedenje Monastery, where they toured the monastery church, cemetery, and enjoyed the hospitality of the monastic community. Later, they visited Rakovica Monastery, where they explored the main church, the resting place of the late Patriarch Pavle, and the museum dedicated to him.
On Saturday, March 1, the delegation returned to the United States.