Photo gallery: Serbian Patriarch Irinej in Diocese of Canada

Serbian Patriarch Irinej concludes his visit to Diocese of Canada

On Wednesday, April 25, His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia completed his seven day visit to the Diocese of Canada.

Serbian Patriarch Irinej in Kitchener-Waterloo

After the services in the Monastery of Holy Transfiguration, the seat of the Diocese of Canada,on Bright Friday, then in Hamilton, the oldest Serbian colony in Ontario and in the greatest Serbian church in Canada, in  Mississauga, Serbian Patriarch visited on Monday, April 23, 2012 , the parishes in Waterloo and Kitchener.

Church consecrated in Rooty Hill

On Bright Saturday, on April 21, 2012, the restored church of St. Stephen the Hierodeacon was consecrated in Sidney's suburb of Rooty Hill. The Holy Liturgy was served by Bishop Irinej of Australia-New Zealand, Bishop Longin of New Gracanica and Midwestern America and Bishop Seraphim of Apolonia (Ecumenical Patriarchate), and lots of priests concelebrated, including also representatives of other Orthodox jurisdictions.

Archbishop Demetrios with a letter to the US Secretary of State Ms. Hilary Clinton, requesting release of Archbishop Jovan

The Archbishop of America of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and Chairman of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America with seat in New York, Archbishop Demetrios, sent a letter to the US Secretary of State, Ms. Hilary Clinton, in which he expressed his deep concern regarding the imprisonment of the Archbishop of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skopje Jovan, and requested his immediate release.

In his addressing to the US Secretary of State, Ms. Hilary Clinton, Archbishop Demetrios of America points out: “in the name of the 65 Hierarchs who are part of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America, I would like to draw Your attention to the truly sad situation in which Archbishop of Ohrid Jovan is found”, and adds: “his arrest has several years long history, from the time when the schismatic church of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia began the persecution of Archbishop Jovan, the canonical Archbishop of Ohrid. The church of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is not recognized by any canonical Orthodox Church in the world, and her constitution by the internal powers is only one more example of action which is contrary to what is right and what is proper, and what is in accordance with the Canonical right of the Orthodox Church across the ecumene.

Serbian Patriarch's noteworthy visit to Missiusaga

The greatest Serbian church in Canada, the Cathedral church of Serbian Saints in Missiusaga, the western part of Toronto, was too small to receive on Sunday, March 22, 2012 under its dome all Serbian believers who came to welcome their spiritual father, His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch.