His Holiness Irinej greets Queen Eliyabeth II on Her Birthday

Her Majesty ELIZABETH II
The Queen of the United Kingdom,
Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, and
Head of the Commonwealth
Buckingham Palace
London SW1A 1AA

You have placed crowns of precious stones upon their heads.
They asked life of you and you gave it to them—long life forever and evermore!
(Ps. 21:3-4)

Your Majesty,

In this day in which we commemorate the 90th year of Your Majesty's birth, kindly allow Us to express, on Our own behalf and on behalf of Our hierarchs, clergy, monastics and faithful, living throughout Your domain Our earnest offering of congratulations and sincere appreciation to the Lord for Your long life, and for Your most gracious Reign.

As the Spiritual Leader of Serbian Orthodox Christians, living in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, as well as throughout the Commonwealth, We rejoice knowing that Your Majesty is both their Sovereign and Godmother to His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander II of Serbia.

We pray The Lord of Lords and The King of Kings, Christ our God, to bless Your Majesty with many more years of health and prosperity, peace and joy!

Long may You reign!
With Our most profound respect,

IRINEJ
Archbishop of Pech
Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovci and
Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church

Serbian Bishop Maxim Visits the Orthodox School of Theology at Trinity College

On Saturday 16 April, His Grace Bishop Maxim of the Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church visited the Orthodox School of Theology at Trinity College in Toronto and presented a new book published within his diocese entitled "The Christian Heritage of Kosovo and Metohija: The Historical and Spiritual Heartland of the Serbian People".

Works on rendering mosaic in Saint Sava Cathedral begin

By placing a steel structure of the working platform, which consists of three lattice girders, preparatory works towards development of mosaics in Saint Sava Cathedral began on 16 April 2016.

According to the decision of the Holy Assembly of Bishops, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church launched activities on adjusting the backing surface on which mosaics are going to be placed.

Metropolitan Amfilohije attended enthronements in Fier and Elbasan (Albania)

Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral attended the enthronement of Metropolitan Nicholas of Apollonia and Fier at the Cathedral of Saint George in Fier, Albania, on 16 April 2016 as well as the enthronement of the new Metropolitan in Elbasan, Anthony.

Metropolitan Nicholas has been a Vicar Bishop of Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania, who performed the rite of enthronement with the concelebration of the members of the Synod of the Orthodox Church in Albania.

Audience at the Serbian Patriarchate – 16 April 2016

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, received Dr. Mladen Ivanic, member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, at the Serbian Patriarchate in Belgrade on 16 April 2016.

In a cordial conversation Mr. Ivanic informed His Holiness on the situation in Bosna and Herzegovina, as well as on efforts to improve a quality of life of the people in this region. The Serbian Orthodox Church plays a significant role in the life of its believers around the world, so on this occasion Mr. Ivanic gave an official suggestion to His Holiness to establish a commission of the Serbian Orthodox Church which would closely cooperate with governing structures on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republic of Srpska (photo: archive www.spc.rs).

Joint Declaration by Pope Francis, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece

We, Pope Francis, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, have met on the Greek island of Lesvos to demonstrate our profound concern for the tragic situation of the numerous refugees, migrants and asylum seekers who have come to Europe fleeing from situations of conflict and, in many cases, daily threats to their survival. World opinion cannot ignore the colossal humanitarian crisis created by the spread of violence and armed conflict, the persecution and displacement of religious and ethnic minorities, and the uprooting of families from their homes, in violation of their human dignity and their fundamental human rights and freedoms.

The tragedy of forced migration and displacement affects millions, and is fundamentally a crisis of humanity, calling for a response of solidarity, compassion, generosity and an immediate practical commitment of resources.  From Lesvos, we appeal to the international community to respond with courage in facing this massive humanitarian crisis and its underlying causes, through diplomatic, political and charitable initiatives, and through cooperative efforts, both in the Middle East and in Europe.