Slava of the First Belgrade Singing Society

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch served today, on the feast day of St. Basil the Great, the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in Belgrade's Cathedral church, during which cut the slava cake of the First Belgrade's Singing Society.

Christmas and New Year's reception in the Serbian Patriarchate in Belgrade

Bishop Irinej: The precondition in searching for God is peace in our hearts

Love was incarnate and seeks of us who are bearers of His most pure image, that within us we realise even His likeness which we have distorted by our sins. If we were to realise this, we would redeem not only ourselves, but humanity in its entirety from this valley of temptations.

Today, from an overflowing heart we repeat those same words of the great Prophet Isaiah, for unto us truly is born a Child, unto us a Son is given! The Divine Youth was incarnate for us and for our salvation! Let us rejoice, therefore, always for Christ our Saviour is born!

As your Аrchpastor, responding, as Isaiah to the summons of the Lord, walking with you through the valley of temptations and beholding about us all of you, His holy flock, the people of God, joyfully we cry out before the cradle of the New-born: Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has given me! (Is. 8:18).

Truly, beloved children, beholding the world about us, we see that the ways of today throughout the entire world are but diversions, one mindless pilgrimage through the valley of temptation. However, the Incarnate God pours into us plentiful hope, for in the midst of a harsh reality which has dominated humanity, from economic crises to societal fragmentation, from battles for justice to unrest and wars; our Saviour and Redeemer comes to us as a new-born Child – precisely an innocent Child. For He within Himself as God Almighty reveals the might of innocence. Our Wonderful God and Counsellor fills the world by His birth according to the flesh with the light of purity which stems only and exclusively from that new life. For us that new life is: a life in Him who alone offers us boundless possibilities.

IOCC Sends New Wave of Relief to Serbia's Earthquake Survivors

One year after an earthquake in the Serbian village of Vitanovac crumbled the walls of her home and destroyed her only source of heat, this woman eagerly assembles the new wood stove now sitting in her kitchen. Through a generous gift from the Serbian Orthodox Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand, IOCC provided wood burning stoves and firewood for 150 families struggling to rebuild their earthquake damaged homes. Photo by Red Cross of Serbia

Baltimore, MD (IOCC) — The past year has been a struggle for the villagers living in and around Vitanovac, Serbia, the epicenter of a jarring 5.4 earthquake last November that left two people dead and tens of thousands of people homeless. With winter coming and the need for assistance still critical, International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) through ongoing support from the Serbian Orthodox Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand, is delivering much needed relief to families still laboring to rebuild their homes and replace belongings destroyed in the earthquake.

Peace from God! Christ is Born!

In all churches of our Holy Church in our country and abroad merry feast days of the Nativity of the Lord were celebrated festively and liturgically.

Sumadija - On Christmas Eve, before the birth of the Son of God, in the Cathedral church of the Assumption of the Most Holy Mother of God, His Grace Bishop Jovan of Sumaidja served the vigil service in the presence of many believers of Kragujevac and surroundings.  Solem Christmas Liturgy was served by Bishop Jovan of Sumadija with the concelebration of the brotherhood of the church.

His Holines Irinej, Serbian Patriarch in Banjaluka

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch served today in Banjaluka's Cathedral church of Christ the Saviour the Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the feast day of Saint Hierodeacon Stephen the First Martyr, which is at the same time the Day of the Republic of Srpska and its Patron Saint's Day.