His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia hosted in his residence a meeting with Anatolii Bibiliv, the President of the Republic of South Ossetia, on January 12, 2018.

During the meeting the parties discussed general issues of mutual interest related to Christianity.

The South Ossetian President thanked His Holiness for the audience and congratulated the Patriarch with Christmas, having noted the special role of Orthodoxy in the history and modern life of the people of South Ossetia. The President emphasized that the priority role of Orthodoxy in South Ossetia is stipulated by the Constitution of the Republic.

Alongside with this President Bibilov told Patriarch Irinej about the meeting and the talk with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, which took place in summer 2017.

While welcoming the guests the Patriarch in his turn marked the importance of the Serbian Orthodox Church in lives of the Serbians and the relevance of the unity of Orthodoxy, especially in current difficult times. On behalf of the Serbian nation His Holiness wished the people of Ossetia peace and prosperity.

After the meeting Anatolii Bibilov presented His Holiness with a traditional Ossetian art object. In his turn His Holiness Partiarch Irinej presented guests with memorable gifts.

This important milestone event crowned the European tour of the President of the Republic of South Ossetia Anatolii Bibilov, and after it the delegation left for Tskhinval.