The Bishop of Backa, His Grace Irinej, on Tuesday was awarded the Hungarian Order of Merit for his contribution to the historical reconciliation of Serbian and Hungarian peoples. The medal was bestowed on the hierarch during a ceremony at the Patriarchal residence in Belgrade.
The ceremony took place in the presence of the Patriarch of Serbia, His Holiness Porfirije, the Deputy Prime Minister of Hungary, representing the President of Hungary János Áder, as well as other hierarchs of the Serbian Church, diplomats and office-holders.