Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk comments on reports about Pope Benedict XVI’s retirement

On February 11, 2013, the chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, made comments to ITAR-TASS news agency concerning that coming reports about the retirement of the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI.

Reports about the retirement of Pope Benedict XVI have proved to be unexpected even for his closest associates. Cardinal Sodano described it as ‘a thunder out of a clear sky’. Really, there have been no precedents of this kind in the modern history of the Roman Catholic Church. Pope John Paul II remained in office to the end despite his serious health problems.

Patriarch Irinej at Russian church in Belgrade

Marking  four years of Patriarchal  ministry of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, served the Divine Liturgy at the Podvorye of the Church of Holy Trinity of the Moscow Patriarchate in Belgrade on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the Patriarchal ministry of His Holiness Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on 10 February 2013. Protopresbyter Vitaly Tarasyev, dean of the Podvorye, concelebrated. 

Serbian Patriarch Irinej in Prizren

Serbian Patriarch Irinej along with bishops celebrated the Divine Liturgy in Prizren. The Holy Synod of Bishops and the Committee for Kosovo and Metohia held a meeting

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch celebrated yesterday the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral Church of Saint Great Martyr George in Prizren, with concelebration of seven bishops, members of the Holy Synod of Bishops and the Committee for Kosovo and Metohia.

Along with bishops, clergy and monks of the Diocese of Raska-Prizren concelebrated, while the choir of the Seminary of Saints Cyril and Methodius sang responses.

Serbian Patriarch visits Gracanica Monastery

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, with members of the Holy Synod of Bishops and the Committee for Kosovo and Metohia last night arrived at Gracanica Monastery

President of the Republic of Serbia, Mr. Tomislav Nikolic visits Patriarchate of Constantinople

Mr. Tomislav Nikolic, President of the Republic of Serbia, within his two-day visit to Turkey, met with His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew I at the Ecumenical Patriarchate on 5 february 2013. The meeting lasted approximately one hour and they discussed themes of general interest, reported by Romfea. On this occasion the firm bond of the Ecumenical Patriarchate with the Serbian Orthodox Church and Serbian people was emphasized. After the meeting, President Nikolic also visited the Patriarchal church of Saint George in attendance of the clergy of the Patriarchate.

Requiem for Princess Margaret Karadjordjevic

On 15 January 2013 in London after a long illness Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret Karadjordjevic fall asleep. The requiem for  Princess was served at her own request, at the Saint Sava church in London, and she was buried at the family’s cemetery in Salem, in German state of Baden-Württemberg on Monday, 28 January 2013.