Bishop Irinej participates in ‘2010 Make it Count’

A gathering of many of Australia's most senior church and denominational leaders – rarely paralleled in the nation's history – on Monday, 21 June 2010 heard both Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott speak of the valuable contribution the Christian faith has made to the nation and also respond to Christian concerns on issues ranging from indigenous welfare, refugees and climate change to marriage, chaplaincy and the deplored sexualisation of children.

The '2010 Make it Count' event, hosted by the ACL, was web-cast live to tens of thousands of Christians meeting in hundreds of churches across Australia.

It saw both the Opposition Leader and the then Prime Minister speak of their commitment to improving the lot of indigenous people and acknowledging Australia's responsibility to provide protection for genuine refugees while defending their differing border protection policies.

Exhibition "Serbia - the cultural bond of the East and the West" opens in Vienna

In the Erzbischöfliches Palais (Archbishop's palace) in Vienna the exhibition "Serbia - the cultural bond of the East and the West" was opened last night. At the formal opening speeches were given by sponsors of the exhibition, presidents of Austrian and Serbia, Heinz Fischer and Boris Tadic, also the host of the exhibition, Roman Catholic Archishop, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, and on behalf of the SOC, Bishop Irinej of Backa, the member of the Holy Synod of Bishop.

Serbian Patriarch IRINEJ in Krusevac

His Holiness IRINEJ, Serbian Patriarch, on the way to Gracanica, visited Krusevac on June 27, 2010 where he served the Divine Liturgy in the youngest church of Krusevac, the church of the Holy Protection of the Theotokos, with the concelebration of priesthood of Krusevac and archimandrite Aleksej (Bogicevic), and in the presense of the mayor and other city representatives.

Cadets from the Cadet Corps from Russia visit Patriarch IRINEJ

His Holiness IRINEJ, Serbian Patriarch received today in the Serbian Patriarchate in Belgrade cadets of the restored Cadet Corps from Russia.  As an usual tradition, the cadets at the end of June and the beginning of July, within a spiritual and educational excursion, came to Serbian Patriarch to ask for a blessing in order to visit monasteries and other cultural landmarks in Serbia.

St. Vitus' Day formally celebrated

Celebrating Saint Vitus' Day, the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Serbian people mark 621 years since the feat of the Serbian army which defended in Kosovo in 1389 its lands and the Christianity from the mighty Ottoman empire.

The central celebration of St. Vitus' Day in Kosovo and Metohija today started with the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy which was served by His Holiness IRINEJ, Serbian Patriarch with the concelebration of Metropolitan Amfilohije, Bishop Atanasije and Bishop Teodosije as well as 20 priests from many Dioceses of the SOC. More than hundred believers from many parts of Kosovo and Metohija and Serbia participated in the Holy Liturgy in front of the Gracanica church.

The state of Serbia was today represented by Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Goran Bogdanovic and Minister of Faith Prof. Dr. Bogoljub Sijakovic with associates. Besides them Ambassador of the Russian Federation HE Alexandar Konuzin with his associates and a group of Russian cadets, the head of the Russian office in Kosovo and Metohija  Andrej Sugurov, the head of Greek office in Prishtina and the EU special adviser for the issues of Serbian cultural heritage in Kosovo Dimitris Moshopoulos, the head of the Norvegian office in Kosovo and the great benefactor of the humanitarian actions for the Serbian returnees in Kosovo and Metohija Sverre Johan Kvale with few foreign diplomats were also present at the Holy Liturgy and the memorial service at Gazimestan.

Patriarch IRINEJ formally welcomed in Gracanica monastery

His Holiness IRINEJ, Serbian Patriarch came today to Kosovo and Metohija in order to participate in tomorrow's celebration of Saint Vitus' Day along with other bishops, priests, monks and the faithful people. Patriarch IRINEJ arrived to the Gracanica monastery at 4pm accompanied by Bishop Teodosije. His Holiness was welcomed by Locum Tenens of the Diocese of Raska-Prizren Metropolitan Amfilohije along with Bishop Atanasije, priests, monks, nuns and believers.