Corner-stone for the first Orthodox church in Botswana

Corner-stone for the first Orthodox church in Botswana
Corner-stone for the first Orthodox church in Botswana
Corner-stone for the first Orthodox church in Botswana
Corner-stone for the first Orthodox church in Botswana

The corner-stone for the first Orthodox church in Botswana, a historical event for the Serbian people on the African continent, was laid on October 15th, 2016, exactly 15 days after the celebration of the great jubilee of the people of Botswana, the 50th anniversary of its independence.

Efforts of the Serbian community to do this one year before did not succeed, for technical reasons and problems concerning the legalization of the original plot. By the acquisition of a new plot in Phakalane, a wealthy district of Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, preparations for laying a corner-stone began.

Serbian Patriarch concluded his visit to the Russian Orthodox Church

On November 23rd, 2016, the Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, concluded his visit to Moscow, where he participated in the celebrations marking the 70th birthday of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.

During the visit to the capital of Russia His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, with his delegation consisting of Bishop Irinej of Backa, Bishop Antonije of Moravica, Archimandrite Isihije and protodeacon Vladimir Rumenic, participated in the conciliar service of the Divine Liturgy and a solemn jubilee act at the Cathedral church of Christ the Saviour, and attended the solemn concert in the Hall of the Church Councils as well. Also, a meeting with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill was held.

Church Slava in San Marcos, CA

Church Slava in San Marcos, CA
Church Slava in San Marcos, CA
Church Slava in San Marcos, CA
Church Slava in San Marcos, CA

His Grace Bishop Maxim of the Western American Diocese made a canonical visit to the faithful of St. Petka Serbian Orthodox Church in San Marcos, California on Sunday, October 23, 2016 the 18th Sunday after Pentecost and the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council.

It was on this Sunday that the parishioners of St. Petka festively celebrated their Church Slava. Concelebrating with His Grace at the Holy Hierarchical Divine Liturgy were Protopresbyter Stavrophor Milan Vukovic, retired priest from the San Marcos parish and Protopresbyter Milovan Katanic, parish priest. Also serving were Deacon Vladan Radovanovic, the diocesan deacon and Deacon David-John Williams from the neighboring Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos parish in Orange County. Following the Slava Litiya His Grace blessed the Slava kolach and koljivo with this year's kumovi Momcilo and Emilija Curcic. A festive Slava banquet followed in the church hall.

10th anniversary of ministry and the name-day of Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostom

On Sunday, 13 November 2016, His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostom of Cyprus celebrateд the 10th anniversary of his fruitful archpastoral ministry and the name-day.

On the eve of the feast-day of Saint John Chrysostom, on 12 November 2016, a festal Vesper service was celebrated in the church of St. Sophia in Strovolos in the prayerful presence of Archbishop Chrysostom of Cyprus and New Justiniana and His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, who was paying an official visit to the Church of Cyprus.

Gala in New York City a Great Success

Gala in New York City a Great Success
Gala in New York City a Great Success
Gala in New York City a Great Success
Gala in New York City a Great Success

“This is a living Cathedral, wounded, burned and charred, waiting like a phoenix to rise out of its ashes, and it will rise” (Bishop Irinej)

New York City, NY- On Saturday, November 5, 2016, a Fundraising Gala was held in order to raise funds to restore and save Saint Sava Cathedral, which was devastated by fire on Easter Sunday, May 1, 2016. This Gala was also a welcoming event for the newly elected Bishop of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Eastern America, His Grace Irinej (Dobrijevic). The fact that the coordinators had to announce that the event was sold out and that the venue could not accommodate more than 340 guests is indicative of this evening’s great success.  Among the guests present were representatives from the church, government, academic, business and sports circles, among many others, who came from Washington, DC, Boston, Cleveland, New York City and surrounding areas. Honored guests that were present during this evening were the newly elected Bishop of the Serbian Diocese of Eastern America, His Grace Bishop Irinej; His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia; His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of Washington and All America and Canada (Primate, Orthodox Church in America); His Grace Bishop Sevastianos of Zela (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America); His Grace Bishop John of Worchester and New England (Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America); Mr. Vlade Divac, famed NBA Star and Humanitarian; Dr. Zorka Milich, Chairperson, Restoration and Development Committee; Mrs. Rebecca MacDonald, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist; Very Rev. Dr. Zivojin Jakovljevic, Cathedral Dean; Very Rev. Vladislav Radujkovic, Cathedral Parish Priest; Mr. Nenad Milinkovic, President of the Cathedral Executive Board; and Canon Dr. J. Robert Wright, Episcopalian Diocese of New York.

The Serbian Patriarch solemnly welcomed in Cyprus

His Beatitude Chrysostomos, Archbishop of the New Justiniana and All Cyprus, welcomed His Holiness Serbian Patriatrch Irinej in front of the Sacred Archdiocese of Cyprus on the 10th of November 2016. (Photogallery).

A solemn doxology rite, in presence of Hierarchs, clergy and numerous faithful who came to greet the Serbian Patriarch, was celebrated in the church of St. John the Theologian. The Primates of the two sister Churches had conversations in the Synodic of the Archdiocese of Cyprus.