Communique of the Holy Assembly of Bishops on Tuesday, May 19, 2009

During sessions on May 18 and 19, the Holy Assembly of Bishops learned about a condition and problems of dioceses of the Serbian Orthodox Church by reports of bishops.

During the session on May 19, Bishop Lavrentije of Shabac informed the Assembly about his wish and decision, due to health and other personal reasons, to retire from an active service and to continue to live as a retired Bishop, but he then accepted a position and a petition of the Assembly , due to current spiritual needs of the Church at this moment, to postpone (‘'to froze'')  until further notice his resignation from the active service of diocesan hierarch and to continue to govern Diocese of Shabac.

During the same session the Assembly had a  business meeting with Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Mr. Goran Bogdanovic and counselors of the President of Serbia Mladjan Djordjevic and Damjan Krnjcevic.

The Patriarchate, May 19, 2009

Bishop Irinej of Bachka
Spokesman of the Holy Assembly of Bishops