The Holy Assembly of Bishops has begun with sessions

Hierarchs gathered at the Studenica monaster. The rite of Invocation of the Holy Spirit was performed in the church of Sts. Apostles Peter and Paul in Ras near Novi Pazar

This annual gathering of the Holy Assembly of Bishops began with the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy at the Cathedral church of the Most Holy Mother of God in the monastery of Studenica on Wednesday, 14 May 2014. His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, officiated the Divine Liturgy with the concelebration of a number of bishops.

Audience at the Serbian Patriarchate - 13 May 2014

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, received Mr. Farid Zarif, Special Representative of UN Secretary General and  Head of UNMIK , at the Serbian Patriarchate on 13 May 2014. Peter Due, chief of UN Office in Belgrade and Mr. Paul Mecklenburg, advisor, were also present at the audience.

The same day, Serbian Patriarch received Dr. Slavenko Terzic, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the Russian Federation. 

Serbian Patriarch and hierarchs arrive in Studenica

The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church convened the Holy Assembly of Bishops into a regular session for 2014. 

Marking the 900^th anniversary of the nativity of Saint Simeon the Myrrh-Gusher, this annual Assembly of Bishops will begin with the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral church of Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God at the Studenica Monastery on 14 May 2014 at 8.30 a.m., while the solemn rite of the Invocation of the Holy Spirit at the beginning of the work of the Assembly will be officiated at the church of Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Ras near Novi Pazar at 2:00 p.m. A working section of the Holy Assembly of Bishops will commence on 15 May 2014 at the Serbian Patriarchate in Belgrade.

Patronal feast of the Saint Sava Seminary in Belgrade

Patronal feast of Cathedral chuch of Saint Sava

Saint Basil of Ostrog

Basil was born in Popovo Selo in Herzegovina, of simple and devout parents. From his youth he was filled with love for the Church of God, and when he grew up he went to the monastery of the Dormi-tion of the Mother of God at Trebinje, and became a monk. As such, he quickly became known for his serious and rare ascetic life, for he loaded himself with ascetic practices, each harder than the last. He was later chosen and consecrated as Bishop of Zahum and Skenderia, much against his will.

As a bishop, he first lived in the monastery at Tvrdo"s, whence, as a good pastor, he confirmed his flock in the Orthodox faith, keeping it from the cruelty of the Turks and the guile of the Latins. But when he was too pressed-upon by his enemies, and when Tvrdos* was destroyed by the Turks, Basil moved to Ostrog, where he lived in strict asceticism, protecting his flock by his unceasing and loving prayers. He went peacefully to the Lord in the 16th century, leaving his whole and healing body, uncor-rupt and wonderworking, to the present day.