Damascus, February 19, 2021
His Beatitude John X sent a congratulatory letter to the newly-elected Patriarch of Serbia, Porfirije, shortly after his election to succeed Patriarch Irinej:
“We address to you our heartfelt peace and fraternal salutation from the throne of this Apostolic See established by Peter and Paul and congratulate you for being newly elected to the throne of Saint Saba, to minister the much revered and esteemed Church of Serbia.
As we write down these lines, we bear in mind the faith and zeal of this Serbian people, with whom we commune as brothers in faith, in our splendid Holy Tradition and our beauteous Orthodoxy. The fraternal relations between Antioch and Serbia bear witness to us, especially the deeper bound forged by our last visit in the fall of 2018 and by the visit of His Holiness the Late Patriarch Irenaeus of blessed memory, in the spring of 2019.
We pray God to receive the soul of Patriarch Irenaeus in the tabernacles of the saints. We are full of hope and trust to continue the beneficial and blessed cooperation of our respective Churches on the Orthodox world level during your holy reign.
As I personally extend to you and the Church of Serbia my deepest congratulations, I also present them on behalf of our Fathers in the Holy Synod of Antioch and all our Antiochene children. May Christ our God grant you many years of blessed service and strengthen you in your patriarchal ministry.”