Important News

Armed islamists arrested outside Decani Monastery

Four armed Islamists have been arrested in front of the main gate to the Decani monastery and the investigation is under way, Abbot of Decani Sava Janjic told Tanjug on Sunday. The Kosovo institutions to deal with the causes of religious extremism, Head of the Serbian Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric said.

The four Kosovo Albanians from various parts of Kosovo-Gnjilane, Urosevac, Prizren and Djakovica- were arrested at around 9 pm on Saturday in front of the main gate to the monastery in a car with the Urosevac license plates, he specified.

Condolences of the Serbian Patriarch Irinej to the President of the Republic of France

His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej has expressed to President of the Republic of France Francois Hollande his condolences over the series of terrorist actions committed in Paris on November 13-14, 2015.

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His Excellency
President of the Republic of France
Mr. François HOLLANDE
Paris

Mister President,

News on last night’s terrorist attacks at many locations in the capital of the Republic of France, Paris, has deeply disturbed Us. On behalf of the fullness of the Serbian Orthodox Church as well as on Our own behalf, please accept sincere condolences. In these moments Our prayers and Our thoughts are with the friendly and, to the Serbian people, always close French people.

We pray that God may repose the souls of all tragically killed, grant comfort to their families and relatives in their pain, a quick recovery to the wounded, and that the French people may overcome the current difficulties.

SERBIAN PATRIARCH
I r i n e j

Serbia will not recognise Kosovo's independence, opposes its membership in UNESCO

Top state and church officials and representatives of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts invited members of UNESCO to reject application of Kosovo to UNESCO, and pointed out that Serbia will not recognise Kosovo's independence, and that it will continue its path towards EU membership, while cherishing and improving the traditionally good relations with Russia, China and other countries.

At today's meeting held at the Presidency of Serbia, which was attended by Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic with advisers, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, National Assembly Speaker Maja Gojkovic, First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, Ministers Nebojsa Stefanovic, Bratislav Gasic and Nikola Selakovic, Director of the Office for Kosovo-Metohija Marko Djuric, His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej with members of the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church and President and representatives of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts Vladimir Kostic and Ljubomir Maksimovic, the following conclusions were agreed and adopted:

Patriarch Irinej meets with Prime Minister Vucic

Today, on October 15 2015, His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch talked with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic at the seat of the Government of Serbia in Belgrade.

Prime Minister discussed with the Patriarch about European Union and Kosovo and Metohija, Tanjug reports. The meeting was attended by Metropolitan Porfirije of Zagreb-Ljubljana, Bishop Teodosije of Raska-Prizren, Bishop Jovan of Sumadija, Secretary of the Holy Synod of Bishops protopresbyter-stavrophor Savo Jovic, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic, Minister of Culture Ivan Tasovac, Minister of Justice Nikola Selakovic, Minister of Internal Affairs Nebojsa Stefanovic, Minister of Defence Bratislav Gasic and Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric.

Communique – Christmass Enclytical

His Holiness Irinej will read Christmas Enclytical of the Serbian Orthodox Church on Monday, January 5th, 2015 at 11 a.m. at the Serbian Patriarchate in Belgrade.

We call representatives of media to attend this event. Please send accreditations on info@spc.rs  no later than Monday, January 5th, 2013 until 8 a.m. 

Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church

Patriarchal Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Saint Sava

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia officiated the solemn Divine Liturgy in  the Memorial Cathedral of Saint Sava of Serbia at Vracar in Belgrade on 16 November 2014. Patriarch Kirill was awarded with the highest distinction of the Serbian Church – Order of Saint Sava, 1st degree.

Concelebrating were Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk and Metropolitan Michael of Geneva and Western Europe, Their Graces Bishops: Lavrentije of Sabac, Vasilije of Srem, Nikanor of Banat, Irinej of Backa, Hrizostom of Zvornik-Tuzla, Lukijan of Osek-Polje, Pahomije of Vranje, Atanasije of Bihac-Petrovac, Joanikije of Budimlje-Niksic, Grigorije of Zahumlje-Herzegovina, Joakim of Polog-Kumanovo, Marko of Bregalnica, Teodosije of Raska-Prizren, David of Krusevac, David of Stobi,  Jovan of Slavonia, Bishop Sergius of Solnechnogorsk, Antonije of Moravica, Arsenije of Toplica and Jeronim of Jegar; archpriests Nikolai Balashov and Igor Jakimchuk; abbots of the Serbian monasteries and clerics of the Serbian Orthodox Church.