Memorial rite at the grave of Serdar Janko Vukotic

On the occasion of the centenary of the Battle of Mojkovac (1916-2015), which had been  previously marked by two magnificent spiritual academies in Mojkovac and Belgrade, the memorial rite (panichida) was served on the grave of the famous General Janko Vukotic at the New cemetery in Belgrade on 18 January.

His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral and His Grace Bishop Joanikije of Budimlje-Niksic served the memorial rite.

Feast of Saint John the Baptist in Novi Sad

Feast of Saint John the Baptist in Novi Sad
Feast of Saint John the Baptist in Novi Sad
Feast of Saint John the Baptist in Novi Sad
Feast of Saint John the Baptist in Novi Sad

On Wednesday, January 20th, 2015 His Grace Bishop Irinej of Backa celebrated his Patron Saint-day by officiating the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy at the Cathedral church in Novi Sad. 

His Grace was concelebrated by Their Graces Bishops Pahomije of Vranje, David of Krusevac, Andrej of Austria-Switzerland and Jeronim of Jegar, as well as Archimandrites Prokopije Tadzar, Isihije Rogic, hieromonk Jelisej Troicki Vyjovic, protopresbyters-staurophors Dusan Kolundzic and Vladimir Vukasinovic, brotherhood of the Cathedral church and deacons of Novi Sad. Retired Bishop Vasilije of Zvornik-Tuzla attended the Holy Liturgy. 

ISIS destroys Iraq's oldest Christian monastery

The oldest Christian monastery in Iraq has been reduced to a field of rubble

Satellite photos obtained by The Associated Press confirm what church leaders and Middle East preservationists had feared: The oldest Christian monastery in Iraq has been reduced to a field of rubble, yet another victim of the Islamic State group's relentless destruction of heritage sites it considers heretical.

Theophany in Homebush

On the Great Feast of Theophany, 19 January 2016, His Grace Bishop Irinej celebrated the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Anglophonic parish of the Holy Archangel Michael in Homebush, New South Wales.

Concelebrating with him was the Reverend Veselin Svorcan, Parish Priest, assisted by Deacons Aleksandar Ivanovic and Miladin Tripic. Presently, a parish of the Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand of the Serbian Orthodox Church, this unique parish initially consisted of faithful from the Russian tradition who desired liturgical services in the English language for the sake of their future generations. Today, its parishioners herald from a wide array of Orthodox backgrounds, as well as those from non-Orthodox backgrounds, who have embraced Holy Orthodoxy.

Synaxis of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John

In the Orthodox Church it is customary, on the day following the Great Feasts of the Lord and the Mother of God, to remember those saints who participated directly in the sacred event. So, on the day following the Theophany of the Lord, the Church honors the one who participated directly in the Baptism of Christ, placing his own hand upon the head of the Savior.

St John, the holy Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, whom the Lord called the greatest of the prophets, concludes the history of the Old Testament and opens the era of the New Testament. The holy Prophet John bore witness to the Only-Begotten Son of God, incarnate in the flesh. St John was accounted worthy to baptize Him in the waters of the Jordan, and he was a witness of the Theophany of the Most Holy Trinity on the day of the Savior’s Baptism.

Feast of the Cross at Cathedral church in Belgrade

Feast of the Cross at Cathedral church in Belgrade
Feast of the Cross at Cathedral church in Belgrade
Feast of the Cross at Cathedral church in Belgrade
Feast of the Cross at Cathedral church in Belgrade

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, celebrated the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy at the Cathedral church in Belgrade on the Feast of the Cross, 18 January 2016.

The Liturgy was attended by His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral and Bishop Joanikije of Budimlje-Niksic. The clergy of the Cathedral church concelebrated to the Patriarch. The First Belgrade's Singing Society sang responses.