On Saturday, August 12, 2023, Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium and Exarch of the Netherlands and Luxembourg was received by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania at his headquarters in Bucharest. Metropolitan Athenagoras was accompanied by his brother, Protopresbyter Bernard Peckstadt, and Elder Sorin Selaru (priest of the Romanian Patriarchate in Brussels).
That’s according to Romfea.
The parties discussed the current challenges faced by both patriarchates and analyzed the history of relations.
At the end of the meeting, the Metropolitan of Belgium and father Bernard both received honorary insignia of the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, the Metropolitan an archpriestly engolpium, and their brother Fr. Bernard a cross with the image of the Apostle Andrew of Protocletos.
Following the invitation of His Beatitude Patriarch Mr. Daniel, Metropolitan Mr. Athenagoras performed the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Monastery of Radu Voda, in the heart of Bucharest, on Sunday, August 13, 2023, where hundreds of faithful attended the outdoor Liturgy.
Also, the metropolitan met with the abbot of the monastery, Archimandrite Nektarios, and honored the memory of Patriarch Justinianos, who was buried on the territory of the monastery.
It is worth noting that Metropolitan Athenagoras’s visit to Romania is intended to improve the relations between the two Churches, which have deteriorated due to a number of issues on which they have different views. In particular, this is about the spiritual guardianship of the Romanian diaspora and the recognition of the OCU.
