His Royal Highness Prince Filip Karađorđević paid a two-day visit to Hilandar, where he was welcomed by the abbot of the monastery, the Venerable Archimandrite Methodius with the brotherhood.

One year after his first stay in Hilandar, when he attended the vigil and the Holy Liturgy on the occasion of the feast of the miracle-working icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, Prince Philip came this year to the festive vigil and the feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul - St. Peter's Day.

The Byzantine choir "Saint Simeon Mirotočivi", which recently sang at the baptism of Princess Maria, sang at the service together with the Hilandar monks.

Abbot Methodije presented Prince Filip with an icon of Saint Andrew the First-Called, the glory of the Karađorđević family, as well as a silk scarf from the "Hilandar Heritage" collection with the "Desert Krin" motif, an ornament from a Hilandar manuscript book from the 17th century, a gift to Princess Danica, reports Hilandar. org. While staying in Hilandar, His Royal Highness visited the works on the monastery accommodation accompanied by Abbot Methodius and the first epitropa, monk Theodosius. The prince is familiar with the plan to complete the works on the restoration of the burnt part of the monastery by the end of next year.

In the continuation of the tour, Prince Philip visited the monastery clinic where, organized by the Hilandar Medical Society, Serbian doctors are on duty throughout the year.

On the occasion of his visit to Hilandar, His Royal Highness stated: "Less than a year after my first visit, I returned again to our Holy Imperial Serbian Lavra, the Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos. The feeling is special, and the warmth, cordiality and hospitality shown to me by the Most Reverend Abbot Methodius and the brothers deeply touched me. The respect shown to the Karađorđević royal family and the deeds of my ancestors, in this institution, makes me proud as much as it obliges me. I symbolically presented the abbot with a cross from the recent baptism of my daughter Princess Maria. The unbroken center of our spirituality and history has always attracted and inspired me."

The prince reminded that his great-grandfather, King Petar I the Liberator, had similar feelings towards Hilandar, our place beyond time, and that there are few peoples who inherit such a treasure, and our destinies are inextricably linked with it.