Press Release

The Serbian Orthodox Church welcomes the decision of UNESCO which rejected the proposal to receive so-called Kosova into its organization. The entire time Serbia and the Serbian Orthodox Church sought for the delaying of this debate in order to avoid unnecessary political confrontation, but since Serbia's request was denied voting took place which showed that there was no readiness in UNESCO to make hasty political decisions which endanger the safety of the Cultural heritage and the dialogue that Belgrade is already leading with Pristina.

It is obvious that the issue of the spiritual and cultural heritage can not be solved through politicization, particularly in a situation where, after the war in Kosovo and Metohija, so many Christian Orthodox shrines and cemeteries were destroyed. Confidence has to be built through deeds, not words, and certainly not negating the very difficult situation in which our faithful people and our holy sites have been living in for many years after the war in Kosovo and Metohija.

Metropolitan Barnabas of Neapolis-Stauropolis visits the Serbian Patriarchate

A great friend of the Serbian people and the Serbian Orthodox Church His Eminence Metropolitan Barnabas of Neapolis-Stauropolis arrived to Belgrade on 5 November 2015.

His Grace Vicar Bishop Arsenije of Toplica, with the blessing of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej, welcomed His Eminence at the airport Nikola Tesla. The high guest was escorted by protopresbyters Nicholas Kalaidzides and Leones Ephremides, hierodeacon Panteleimonos Anastasiades, secretary of the Metropolis; personal secretary Mr. Chrysostomos Tiris and priest Aleksandar Pavlovic.

Representatives of United Nations visits Serbian Patriarch

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch received Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations for Kosovo and the chief of UNMIK Mr. Zahir Tanin at the Serbian Patriarchate on 4 November 2015.

The meeting was attended by representative of UN Secretary General to Belgrade Mrs. Simona-Mirela Miculescu and members of the Holy Synod of Bishops – Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral and Bishop Teodosije of Raska-Prizren.

Bishop Irinej writes to Ministers of Australia and New Zealand on preventing admission of “Kosovo” to UNESCO membership

Bishop Irinej of the Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand writes to Foreign Ministers Julia Bishop of Australia and Murray McCully of New Zealand on preventing admission of “Kosovo” to UNESCO membership

On 30^th October 2015, writing on behalf of the Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand of the Serbian Orthodox Church and their substantial Serbian communities, especially in Australia and New Zealand to The Honourable Foreign Ministers Julia Bishop of Australia and Murray McCully of New Zealand, Bishop Irinej urged them and their respective governments, in the strongest possible terms, to assist in preserving, without compromise, our Serbian cultural and spiritual patrimony of Kosovo-Metohija, by preventing the admission of “Kosovo” to the membership of UNESCO.

Nis: Visit of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, visited the city of Nis and the Diocese of Nis on 3 November 2015. о је 3. новемнра 2015. године град Ниш и Епархију нишку.

His Holiness was welcomed by His Grace Bishop Teodosije of Raska-Prizren, deputy of the Bishop of Nis in serving as Diocesan bishop, with priests and believers. Following the warm welcome there was a doxology at the Cathedral church of the Decent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles.

Serbian Patriarch to His Spirtual Children: Save Serbian and World Heritage

BY THE GRACE OF GOD,
ARCHBISHOP OF PEC, METROPOLITAN OF BELGRADE-KARLOVCI AND SERBIAN PATRIARCH IRINEJ

Dear spiritual children,

Our brothers and sisters in Kosovo and Metohija and the holy shrines of the Serbian Orthodox Church are in great danger, because the proponents of the so-called state of Kosovo want to obtain the membership in UNESCO and confiscate Serbian churches and monasteries. Therefore, the Serbian Patriarchate calls all pious and Orthodox people, all people of good will and everyone who cares about the rights and justice in the world, to oppose the so-called state of Kosovo's membership in UNESCO, which threaten to cause a humanitarian disaster and destruction of Serbian Orthodox shrines and thus the UNESCO world's heritage.

Consequently, the Serbian Orthodox Church announced on its website www.spc.rs  some most relevant information.

We strongly invite you to share the following information on our website, and to share the website SAVE WORLD HERITAGE http://saveworldheritage.org/  through your social media and internet means in the most visible way possible, until 9 November 2015; join our efforts to inform the international community of the gravity of situation and the current danger threatening the sacred, spiritual and cultural heritage and Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija. We are convinced that this kind of information would help many uninformed people get informed quickly and efficiently.

We believe this would help the members of the General Assembly of UNESCO, despite all the pressures, to make a fair decision before the final vote at the forthcoming session and preserve Serbian and World Heritage in the South Serbian province.

With the blessing,

SERBIAN PATRIARCH
+IRINEJ

* * *

PAR LA GRÂCE DE DIEU,
ARCHEVÊQUE DE PEC, MÉTROPOLITE DE BELGRADE ET DE KARLOVCI,
PATRIARCHE SERBE IRINEJ

Chers enfants spirituels,

Nos frères et sœurs au Kosovo et Métochie et les lieux saints de l'Église orthodoxe serbe sont en grand danger, parce que les représentants de l'autoproclamé état du Kosovo veulent adhérer à l'UNESCO et confisquer ainsi les églises et monastères, mettant en danger le reste de la population serbe qui les maintient, ainsi que le peuple albanais, mettant en danger la véritable communion et le développement au Kosovo et Métochie. Par conséquent, le Patriarcat serbe appelle toute personne pieuse, toute personne de bonne foi, et tous ceux qui se soucient des droits et de la justice dans le monde, à s’opposer à l'adhésion du Kosovo à l'UNESCO, ce qui équivaudrait à une catastrophe humanitaire ou la destruction des sanctuaires orthodoxes serbes reconnus comme le patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO. À cette occasion, l'Église orthodoxe serbe annonce sur son site Web  http://www.spc.rs/   les informations ad hoc.

Nous vous invitons à diffuser, les informations que vous trouverez sur notre page de site internet, ainsi que sur le portal SAVE WORLD HERITAGE http://saveworldheritage.org/ sur vos  réseaux sociaux et sur internet de façon à ce que ce soit le plus visible, avant le 9 novembre 2015, et de nous aider à informer le large public concernant la situation grave et la grande menace à laquelle est confronté le patrimoine  sacré spirituel et culturel ensemble avec le people au Kosovo et Métochie. Nous sommes convaincus que la diffusion de ce type d'information aiderait  beaucoup, à informer de façon  rapide et efficace tous ceux qui ignorent ces faits. Nous croyons que cela aidera les membres de l'Assemblée générale de l'UNESCO, en dépit de toutes pressions, à prendre une décision juste au moment du vote final à la session en cours et de le patrimoine mondial et serbe dans la province du Sud de Serbie.

Avec la bénédiction,

PATRIARCHE SERBE
+IRINEJ