Eparchial (Diocesan) News

Message of Archbishop Serafim

MESSAGE OF HIS EMINENCE ARCHBISHOP OF JOHANNESBURG AND PRETORIA KYR SERAPHIM KYKKOTIS ON CELEBRATION FOR 30 YEARS OF ST THOMAS SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH IN SOUTH AFRICA

On behalf of his Beatitude our Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa THEODOROS II, the clergy and the members of the local Orthodox Church, I take this opportunity of the special celebrations of the 30th
anniversary of the building of the Church of Saint Apostle Thomas in 1978, to welcome in South Africa his Eminence Bishop of Hvosno Kyr Atanasije as well as the very Rev. fr. Miodrag, parish priest of St. Savva's Church in Belgrade and Reverend Archdeacon Stevan.

Bishop Irinej panelist at The University of Sydney simposium: ”Thou shalt not kill…?”

(SYDNEY) On Saturday, 11 October 2008, His Grace Bishop Irinej of Australia and New Zealand participated in an astute academic gathering at the International House of the University of Sydney, sponsored by the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies. This enlightening symposium was chaired by Associate Professor Jake Lynch, a renowned journalist and accomplished author. This distinguished conference was well attended by university professors and students, international professionals and prominent members of the communities of faith.

Minister awards for exellence in student achievement 2008

The Annual Minister's Awards for excellence in student achievement, organized by the NSW Community Languages Schools Board were held at University of New South Wales in Kensington, on Friday night the 5th September 2008. The NSW Community Languages Schools Board and the Department of Education, each year for the past 5 years, awarded students in recognition for their language achievement at their community languages school. There are currently 49 languages being taught across 487 NSW languages schools and there are over 30,000 students studying each year.

Chapel's Slava celebrated

Mars, PA - A total of fourteen priests and three deacons were in attendance for the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. Mother Ana and Sister Anastasia were present from Monastery Marcha. An additional priest was among those present for the Vigil served by His Grace on the eve of the Slava.

All four Deaneries of the Diocese were represented. Attendees came from Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, North Carolina and Washington D.C.

In his homily, His Grace emphasized the strong connection between the St.Nikodim Chapel and the monasteries and churches of the Serbian Orthodox Church throughout the world and throughout the centuries.

San Diego Church to Hold Serbian Cultural Festival on Saturday, September 13th, 2008

St. George Serbian Orthodox Church celebrates its annual Serbian Festival, on Saturday, September 13, 2008 from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. The festival provides an inexpensive and conveniently local fun-filled day for the entire family. Entrance fee is a $3 donation with children 12 and under free.

A symposium presentation will occur at 12:30pm with the topic: Healing Power of Forgiveness given by The Very Reverend Father Bratso Krsic. This symposium will highlight Orthodox understanding of the healing of the soul through the sacraments.

Source: St. George Serbian Orthodox Church

New ordination in Western America

The feasday of the Assumption of the Holy Theotokos was celebrated most festively at the Church of the Assumption, on the occasion of their Church Slava on Thursday August 28, 2008. His Grace Bishop Maxim of Western America officiated together with special guest His Grace Bishop Joanikije of Budim and Niksic who had just arrived to the diocese for the occasion of their annual Diocesan Days celebration. Ten priests assisted the hierarchs at the liturgy and the reponses were sung by the Belgrade Theological Student Choir, also visiting the Western Diocese for the diocesan celebration.