Serbian Patriarch Irinej visits USA

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch travels to the United States of America, where he is staying from 4-14 September 2013. From the States Patriarch Irinej will go to Sarajevo; where he will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at Sarajevo's Cathedral Church on the occasion of 40th anniversary of the hierarchal office of the Metropolitan Nikolaj of Dabar-Bosna. Presbyter Vladimir Vranic, officer of the Holy Synod of Bishops, will accompany Serbian Patriarch. 

Diocese of Western America: Freedom to Pursue the Faith

Friday, August 30, 2013 was the first day of the Jubilee Celebration of the Western American Diocese: Freedom to Pursue the Faith.  This year during Diocesan Days we acknowledge several momentous anniversaries: 50 years of the founding of the Diocese, 150 years of the birth of Archimandrite Sebastian Dabovich, Holy Apostle to the Americas, and 1700 years of the Edict of Milan.

On this first day of Diocesan Days, all of our clergy from throughout our Diocese gathered together for a luncheon followed by a special Clergy Siminar with guest speaker V.Rev. Dr. John Erickson of St. Vladimir's Seminary. Later in the day, the Diocesan Council held it's annual meeting in preparation for the Annual Assembly. At the same time, the Diocesan Kolo Sprpskih Sestara held it's Annual Meeting with ladies from KSS organizations from churches throughout the diocese.

Preparations of the celebration of the jubilee of the Edict of Milan

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch met with Mr. Tomislav Nikolic, President of the Republic of Serbia at the Serbian Patriarchate today, on 3 September 2013. 

The meeting, which topic was the solemn celebration of the jubilee of the Edict of Milan, was attended by their Graces Bishops Irinej of Backa and Teodosije of Raska-Prizren, Director of the Office for Cooperation with Traditional Churches and religious communities Mr. Mileta Radojevic, and Mr. Darko Bulatovic on behalf of the mayor of City of Nis. 

Dormition celebrated in the Russian Church in Dandenong

"Dormition ... None born on earth are so glorified, so elevated, so exalted, as the Mother of Christ our God. When we have the great saints pray for intercession to God, we beseech them, "pray to God for us;" but when we look to her as Queen of the Almighty, we beseech her, "Most Holy Mother of God save us." And the Church, present in the great and glorious day of her triumph speaks of her as "Mother of God constant in prayer. . .” Therefore, no matter how sinful and unworthy we may be, we will gladly say that she is the Mother of the human race, and the Heavenly Mother of us all."  Metropolitan Filaret (Voznesensky)

Last Wednesday, the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Parish in Dandenong celebrated its Patronal Feast Day. On Tuesday, 27 August 2013, the Vigil Service was celebrated with the placing on the tomb of the shroud of the Mother of God. On Wednesday, 28 August 2013, a solemn service began with welcoming His Grace Bishop Irinej of the Serbian Orthodox Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand. With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, the festal Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Grace Bishop Irinej. Concelebrating clergy came from Melbourne, Geelong, Sydney and Adelaide. Before the Divine Liturgy, the Lesser Blessing of Water took place, with the rite of the Patronal Procession solemnised following the Divine Liturgy. It was gratifying to note that in spite of the duration of the services, the church was filled with worshipers from all Orthodox traditions. There were many communicants, especially children.

Statement issued from the Greek-Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch

Statement issued from the Greek-Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, Balamand, on 30th August 2013

I raised my eyes to the mountains where I receive my help.

Our countries are passing through a difficult phase and challenging circumstances with their peoples being threatened by several dangers. This painful situation in which we find ourselves and in which the lives of many are threatened by killing, kidnapping, forced immigration and the use of weapons of mass destruction, violation of international law, bombs everywhere destroying the security of individuals and home countries and religion being used to implant division between compatriots, make us feel sad. The war continues to threaten our homelands and the possibilities for peace seem to be diminished. In the midst of all these circumstances our Church is well rooted in this land and we insist on certain common principles as the basis for her involvement in public affairs. She demands that international organizations adopt appropriate steps which would promote the protection of the inhabitants of these lands. She invites all interested states to abandon, directly or indirectly, all their private narrow interests in order to help prepare an appropriate context for Syria to arrive at the fundamentals of a political and peaceful solution through the logic of dialogue rather than that of deadly conflict.

UNESCO fears of cultural heritage in Syria

World cultural heritage sited endangered, among which, the old part of Damascus, antique “Cities of death” on the north, a Crusader castle Krak des Chevaliers, the old part of Bozrah, as well as the ancient Aleppo

The World organization for culture UNESCO is concerned about the cultural heritage in Syria. Director General Irina Bokova said on Thursday night in Paris that cultural values contributed to the identification of people with their country. “Destruction of one often leads to the destruction of the second”. All sides involved in the fight must protect cultural heritage, she said. The UNESCO received reports on damages of museums and buildings, as well as the theft of cultural property. In addition, there is illegal mining, since such sites are not guarded anymore.