Hymn of Entry to the Hagia Sophia

This essay is published here on the occasion of the first prayers following Hagia Sophia’s reversion to a mosque, July 24, 2020.

It was spring 1964—a difficult year for the Orthodox Greek brothers of Constantinople, because of the well-known anti-Greek acts of the Turks, due to Cyprus. I was in the Theological Academy of Chalke (whose operation unfortunately has since been forbidden by the Turks). Great Lent had just started. In the Holy Trinity Monastery of Chalke, cantor Stanitsas chanted with his students: “Open for me the gates of repentance, O Life-Giver.” It was then that I experienced and understood Orthodox Byzantium: with all its grandeur it humbly repents in front of the Living and True God, as simply as washing in the morning or eating our daily bread.

The Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in Jasenovac Monastery

The feast day of The Holy Martyrs Cyricus and Julitta, Saint Vladimir of Kiev and the Holy Martyrs of Velicko-Gornje Polimlje was prayerfully celebrated in Jasenovac Monastery on Tuesday, 28 July 2020. 

With the sisterhood of this holy family and the clergy of the Diocese of Slavonia,  His Grace Bishop Jovan of Pakrac and Slavonia celebrated the Holy Liturgy.

Humanitarian Aid of the Serbian Eastern American Diocese to the Serbian People in Kosovo and Metohija

With the blessings of His Grace Irinej the Bishop of the Serbian Eastern American Diocese, the Department of Christian Education of the Serbian Eastern American Diocese SOC organized a humanitarian action to collect aid for the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija under the name "Let's warm their hearts.” During this humanitarian action, about 2,000 tons of goods were collected, including over 5,000 different clothing items for children, youth and adults. These are 131 packages with an estimated total value of over $23,000. In addition, $13,400 were raised.

Synaxis of Holy Archangel Gabriel celebrated in Cathedral church of Novi Sad

His Grace Bishop Iinej of Backa presided at the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy on the feast of the Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Gabriel, in the St. George's Church in Novi Sad on 13/26. July 2020.

-God does not deny the freedom he has given us and never imposes Himself on anyone. That is why faith is needed. If we were enslaved and forced to accept the Lord, then there would be no faith, no deed, no participation along the way of our salvation. The Lord saves us by performing economia of Salvation, He is the One Who is the Savior, but not without us, and especially not against us.

Patron Saint-day of the church of Holy Archangel Gabriel in Belgrade

On the occasion of church Patron Saint-day, His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch celebrated the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the church of Holy Archangel Gabriel in Belgrade on 26 July 2020.

The Patriarch was concelebrated by diocesan dean of Belgrade One protopresbyter-staurophore Dr Vladimir Vukasinovic, dean of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology of the University of Belgrade presbyter Dr Zoran Rankovic, protonamesnik Goran Mitic, presbyter Dejan Vujic and protodeacon Milan Kovacevic in prayerful presence of the dean of the church protopresbyter-staurophor Ilija Smigic, the host of the slava Mr. Milovan, Mr.  Haji Aleksandar and Mrs. Ljiljana Djurovic Habjanovic and the faithful people of the capital.

Patron Saint-day of the monastery of Holy Archangel Gabriel in Tumane

Also this year 2020 the Patron Saint-day of the monastery of Holy Archangels in Tumane was celebrated solemnly.

The spiritual celebration began with holiday's vigil service. On the feast day of Holy Archangel Gabriel the faithful people arrived from many places in the name of the Lord.  The Holy Liturgy was celebrated by monastery brotherhood led by High Venerable abbot Dimitrije.