Senator Samuel Brownback, Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, with his associates, received His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, at the State Department on 3 March 2020. The meeting of the two delegations began at 3pm local time.

Since Mr. Brownback was received last year by His Holiness Patriarch at the Serbian Patriarchate in Belgrade, the meeting began with the memory of the talks that took place at the time. His Holiness, the Patriarch, outlined the views of the Serbian Orthodox Church on various topics related to the Serbian people and the Serbian Orthodox Church. He asked for a little more attention to be given to the Serbian matter. The interlocutors agreed that communication is the most important, but also that it depends on leaders from the top.

At 4 pm local time at the State Department in Washington, His Holiness Patriarch Irinej had discussions with Mr. Philip Ricker, Acting Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, as well as with his Deputy Matthew Palmer.

The meeting was held with the attendance and the participation of His Grace Bishop Jovan of Sumadia, member of the Holy Synod of Bishops; His Grace Bishop Irinej of East America; protonamesnik Vasilije Vranic,PhD; dean of the Cathedral Church of Saint Luke in Washington; as well as proto-deacon Damjan Bozic, PhD.

Source: spc.rs