April 19, 2024 marked the 40th anniversary of the repose to the Lord of Bishop Anthony of Moravici, representative of the Patriarch of Serbia to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, rector of the Church of the First Apostles Peter and Paul at the Yauza Gate — Serbian compound in the Russian capital.
The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts in the Peter and Paul Church at the Yauza Gate was celebrated by the hierarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Bishop Stefan Remezyansky, who, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Porfiry of Serbia, arrived in Moscow to participate in the commemoration of the deceased Bishop Anthony.
Metropolitan Niphon of Philippopolis, the representative of the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, prayed at the altar.
The mother of the deceased archpastor was present in the church.
At the funeral litany, prayers were offered for the repose of the soul of Bishop Anthony (Pantelich).
In a speech before the start of the memorial service, addressing Bishop Stefan of Remezyansk, Metropolitan Niphon stressed: "Today we, representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches, pray with you for our beloved brother— Bishop Anthony. We knew him as a man who lived forever, who imitated the great fathers of the Church. Vladyka Anthony knew that the testimony of the Holy Trinity is a life of full love and that we are called to live in spiritual cooperation with God and in fraternal communion with each other. Bishop Anthony took care of the flock that the Lord had given him. He was a father, brother, mentor, friend to them."
On behalf of representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches at the Moscow Patriarchal See, Metropolitan Niphon of Philippopolis expressed condolences to the Primate of the Serbian Church, His Holiness Patriarch Porfiry and the Primate of the Russian Church, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, and also addressed words of comfort and support to Bishop Stefan of Remezyansk, to the relatives of the deceased Vladyka, employees, workers and worshippers in the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul and to all those who gathered at the Serbian compound on this day for a common prayer for the newly deceased Bishop Anthony (Pantelic).
For his part, Bishop Stefan thanked Metropolitan Niphon for his kind and heartfelt words about the deceased hierarch and called on all those present to pray for the repose of the soul of Vladyka Anthony.
The memorial service at the grave of the deceased hierarch near the walls of the temple was performed by the representative of the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Metropolitan Niphon of Philippopolis and Bishop Stefan of Remezyansky, in the concelebration of the clergy.
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The Vicar of the Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Bishop Anthony of Moravica, departed to the Lord on March 11, 2024 after a severe long-term illness.
For more than two decades, since 2002, he was the representative of the Patriarch of Serbia to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, rector of the metochion of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Moscow, remaining in this position until his untimely death.
The funeral service was performed by the Primates of the Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow.