The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church expressed its protest and condemned the imprisonment of Archbishop Jovan

After years of persecution, harassment, arrests and imprisonments, His Beatitude the Archbishop of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skopje kyr Dr. John, pan-Orthodoxly renowned and recognized canonical Prelate of the ancient Ohrid Archbishopric, was sentenced on May 11^th, to two and a half years in prison under false charges of alleged fraud and embezzlement, the result of a politically motivated and staged pseudotrial of a Stalinist-type, organized upon the blatant request of the schismatic organization calling itself “The Macedonian Orthodox Church”. He was sentenced solely because of His unwavering commitment to the unity of the Church of God; because of his communion with the Serbian Patriarchate and thereby with universal Orthodoxy worldwide; and because of his persistent and confessional fight against the schismatic mentality and anti-Ecclesiastical ethnophiletism. This is a unique case in contemporary Europe – if not in the whole civilized world – of the authorities, by order, to commit an act of cruel violence and an atrocity upon the Orthodox Church and Her lawful senior representatives, most violently breaking both their own laws and international norms and conventions.

Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church begins with Divine Liturgy

The regular session of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church has begun this morning with the Divine Liturgy in Belgrade's Cathedral Church which was led by His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch.

Solemn Procession in honour and glory of Our Holy Father Basil of Ostrog the Wonderworker went through streets of Niksic

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriaarch, His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral and Their Graces Bishops retired Atanasije of Zahumlje-Herzegovina, Nikanor of Banat, Filaret of Milesevo, Joanikije of Budimlje-Niksic, Grigorije of Zahumlje-Herzegovina and Maxim of Western America with great number of priests and believers led on Saturday, May 12 a solemn procession in honour and glory of Our Father Basil of Ostrog which went through streets of Niksic. 

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch blesses newly-built Monastery of St. Sava in Golija

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch consecrated today newly built monastery of St. Sava in Golija with the concelebration of Their Graces Bishops retired Atanasije of Zahumlje-Herzegovina, Nikanor of Banat, Filaret of Mileseva, Joanikije of Budimlje-Niksic, Grigorije of Zahumlje-Herzegovina and Maxim of Western America on Sunday, May 13, 2012  and he served the Divine Liturgy there. 

Patriarch Irinej serves Divine Liturgy in Mrkonjici

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch served the Divine Liturgy in Herzegovina's village of Mrkonjici, on the feast of St. Basil of Ostrog with the concelebration of Their Graces Bishops Grigorije of Zahumlje-Herzegovina, retired Atanasije of Herzegovina, Joanikije of Budimlje-Niksic, Fotije of Dalmatia and Maxim of Western America.

Announcement of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church on the occasion of the latest imprisonment of Archbishop John

After years of persecution, harassment, arrests and imprisonments, His Beatitude the Archbishop of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skopje kyr Dr. John, pan-Orthodoxly renowned and recognized canonical Prelate of the ancient Ohrid Archbishopric, was sentenced yesterday, May 11^th, to two and a half years in prison under false charges of alleged fraud and embezzlement, the result of a politically motivated and staged pseudotrial of a Stalinist-type, organized upon the blatant request of the schismatic organization calling itself “The Macedonian Orthodox Church”. He was sentenced solely because of His unwavering commitment to the unity of the Church of God; because of his communion with the Serbian Patriarchate and thereby with universal Orthodoxy worldwide; and because of his persistent and confessional fight against the schismatic mentality and anti-Ecclesiastical ethnophiletism. This is a unique case in contemporary Europe – if not in the whole civilized world – of the authorities, by order, to commit an act of cruel violence and an atrocity upon the Orthodox Church and Her lawful senior representatives, most violently breaking both their own laws and international norms and conventions. Fortunately, several diplomats, representatives of the Orthodox Church, as well as representatives from organizations and institutions dedicated to the protection of human rights and religious freedom, attended the “trial”, and thus an accurate report and a clear picture of this sad and ugly scene staged in the Veles courtroom can be made to the relevant factors and the public.

The Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church, under whose canonical jurisdiction the autonomous Ohrid Archbishopric is, condemns with the deepest moral indignation this incomparable violence and persecution conducted under the guise of legal order, and is always with the brothers and sisters from the Ohrid Archbishopric, in prayer and evangelic love, and especially with their Shepherd, who gladly accepts and endures suffering for our forefathers’ faith as well as for the unity of Christ’s holy Orthodox Church. The Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church finally calls:

• for all sister Orthodox Churches throughout the ecumene;
• for all other Christian Churches in the world;
• for the World Council of Churches, the Conference of European Churches and other Christian organizations;
• for the spiritual leaders of major world religions;
• for the for governments and relevant public authorities of legally regulated states, primarily democratic;
• for the international institutions;
• for the institutions and organizations of human rights and religious freedom; and
• for all people of good will;

to provide spiritual, moral, legal and any other possible support to the prisoner of conscience, the Archbishop John, and to contribute to his release from prison as soon as possible.

Belgrade, May 12^th, 2012

The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church