News

Appeal for the Decani Monastery Relief Fund: Food shortages in northern Kosovo

Archimandrite Nektarios Serfes, President of The Decani Monastery Relief Fund Inc., has circulated a press release requesting help for the people of Northern Kosovo:

Orthodox Health Plan announces open enrollment period through December 30

In a memo issued recently by Priest Constantine L. Sitaras, Chairperson of the Joint Orthodox Health Plans Committee, it was announced that clergy and other qualified lay Church workers may join the Orthodox Health Plan Groups during the current open enrollment period that runs through December 30, 2011, with an effective date of coverage of January 1, 2012.

The Orthodox Health Plan [OHP] is the official health plan for the clergy of the Orthodox Church in America, as well as the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, the Diocese of the Armenian Church, the Serbian Orthodox Church, and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.  Archpriest Eric G. Tosi, OCA Secretary, represents the OCA on OHP’s board.

Sanctity of Life Pan-Orthodox Service

Slava of journalists

The Association of journalists of Serbia (UNS) marked on Monday, November 21, 2011 its slava of St. Michael the Archangel. The slava cake was cut by archdeacon Mile MIlijancevic in the presence of the management of the UNS: president of UNS Ljiljana Smajlovic, secretary general of UNS Nino Brajovic.

The journalists of Serbia celebrated St. Michael the Archange as their slava until the Second World War. This tradition was restored by the UNS in 2001.

The letter of UNESCO Director-General to Serbian Patriarch

Your Beatitude, I wish to refer to your letter of 15 September 2011, concerning the World Heritage site of the Medieval Monuments in Kosovo. As you know, UNESCO's mission is to contribute to sustainable development, mutual understanding and peace through education, the sciences, culture and communication and information. Moreover, the Organization is convinced of the tremendous potentiai of cuiturai neritage as a motor for development, and as a tool for enhancing mutual understanding and social cohesion. I would like to assure you that UNESCO continues to spare no effort to safeguard the VVorld Heritage site of the Medieval Monuments in Kosovo, in close cooperation with the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), the appropriate authorities and all the people committed to preserving the precious shared heritage of humankind.

Russians Flock To See Virgin Mary Relic

Braving freezing cold temperatures and ice-covered sidewalks, tens of thousands of Russians stood in line Wednesday to see and kiss a newly arrived relic of the Virgin Mary in Russia’s largest Orthodox cathedral.

The Virgin Mary’s Cincture, a belt that Christians believe was worn by Jesus’ mother, was brought to Russia last month from Mount Athos, a monastic community in Greece.