President of Serbia awards Met. Irinej for contribution to culture
Archbishop Irinej of Novi Sad and Metropolitan of Bačka and President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić. Photo: spc.rs
On February 16, 2026, a ceremony for awarding a state honor to Archbishop Irinej of Novi Sad and Metropolitan of Bačka took place in Belgrade. The high award was presented to the hierarch by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, as reported on the official website of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
The solemn event took place at the Palace of Serbia as part of the celebration of Statehood Day – Candlemas, which is observed in memory of the beginning of the First Serbian Uprising in 1804 and the adoption of the 1835 Candlemas Constitution (Sretenje Constitution). The Metropolitan was awarded the Order of the 1st degree.
The award citation notes the bishop's contribution to the spiritual development of the Bačka Eparchy, promotion of Christian culture and art, as well as activities to strengthen cultural and national identity. The award is called recognition of his service for the benefit of the Republic of Serbia.
Patriarch of Serbia Porfirije and other state and church officials also participated in the ceremony. In his response, Metropolitan Irinej thanked for the trust shown and emphasized the significance of the Church as one of the pillars of Serbia's historical and state tradition.
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the head of the schismatic "Church of Montenegro" filed an appeal to the Phanar.
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