Patriarch Irinej receives German Ambassador Axel Dittmann

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, received His Excellency Mr. Axel Dittmann, Ambassador of the Republic of Germany to Belgrade, at the Serbian Patriarchate, on Monday, 28 September 2015.

Audiences at the Serbian Patriarchate – 28 September 2015

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, received representatives of the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) from Baltimore, USA, at the Serbian Patriarchate on Monday, 28 September 2015.

The high delegates of this charity organization exposed the results achieved so-far in the field of helping the needy in today’s difficult living conditions, emphasized the significance of cooperation with the Serbian Orthodox Church and presented some possibilities for improving actions in the area of providing support to people who have been deprived of basic living conditions, particularly in Kosovo and Metohija.

Prayerful gathering in the Milton monastery

On the feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God, His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej served the Holy Liturgy with the concelebration of the local clergy in the monastery of the Holy Transfiguration of the Lord in Milton.

Prayerful and spiritual joys in the Milton Monastery, Canada

On Saturday, September 19th, His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej officiated the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the monastery of the Holy Transfiguration of the Lord at Milton.

The Patriarch was concelebrated by protosyncelos Vasilije (Gavrilovic), protodeacon DamjanBozic and deacon Djurad jKojic. His Holiness baptized a boy, GavriloZubac, the tenth grandson of Very Revd. VasilijeTomic, parish priest of Richmond Hill and deputy of His Holiness. Following the end of the vesper service, ambassador of Serbia to Canada Mr. MihajloPapazoglu payed a visit His Holiness.

Patriarch Irinej at Kolo Slava in Hamilton, Ontario

The Serbian Sisters celebrated their slava, the Nativity of the Theotokos, on Sunday September 20.

The Holy Hierarchical Liturgy was served by His Holiness the Patriarch of Serbia and Administrator of the Canadian Dioses Irinej. Serving alongside His Holiness were: archpriest Vasilije (Gavrilovic), V. Rev. Steva Stojisavljevic, V. Rev. Vojislav Pavlovic, and protodeacon Damjan Bozic. Our choir Stevan Mokranjac responded to the Liturgy.

Feast of Nativity of our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos, and Ever-Virgin Mary

The Feast of the Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary is celebrated on September 8 each year. The Feast commemorates the birth of the Mother of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

BACKGROUND

The birth and early life of the Virgin Mary is not recorded in the Gospels or other books of the New Testament, however this information can be found in a work dating from the second century known as the Book of James or Protevangelion.

According to the story found in this book, Mary's parents, Joachim and Anna, were childless for many years. They remained faithful to God, but their prayers for a child were unanswered. One day, when Joachim came to the temple to make an offering, he was turned away by the High Priest who chastised him for his lack of children. To hide his shame, Joachim retreated to the hill country to live among the shepherds and their flocks.