The 29th Annual Opening of the Law Term for 2010

The Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Churches in Australia (SCCOCA) sponsored the 29th Annual Opening of the Law Term for 2010 with an Inter-Orthodox Prayer Service held at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Sydney on Thursday evening, 11 February 2010. In the presence of several hundred participants, clergy and lay, especially legal professionals from the Inter-Orthodox community, and notable guests from the judiciary headed by the Honourable Chief Justice James Jacob Spigelman AC and the Honourable Attorney General John Hatzistergos.

Information on new website of Diocese of Raska and Prizren

Until the creation of a new website of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren at the earlier web address, news from the Diocese can be followed on the following blog:

http://raskoprizrenska.blogspot.com/

Patriarch Irinej serves at Ruzica church

His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia served yesterday the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy at the Ruzica church in Belgrade. His Holiness Patriarch served with the concelebration of priests and deacons of the Archbishopric of Belgrade-Karlovac.

Bishop Atanasije on the Break into Gracanica Monastery

Yesterday, February 14, 2010, a group of about twenty monks of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren which opposes the decision of the Patriarch and the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church, led by the hegumen of Crna Reka Monastery Fr. Nikolaj and a number of civilians from the north of Kosovo, forcibly broke into the courtyard of Gracanica Monastery with the intent of "protecting the dismissed Bishop Artemije". After unsuccessful attempts to enter through the main gate, the group of perpetrators led by the monks of Crna Reka physically assaulted the monks who are helping Bishop Atanasije in performing his duties. After a clash the group broke into the monastery using a side entrance. Shouting, they broke the entrance door of the bishop's residence and one civilian even snatched a rifle from a Swedish soldier. (Swedish KFOR has been providing security for Bishop Artemije and the monastery for years.) The incident concluded after the group reemerged from the bishop's residence, having convinced itself that Bishop Artemije "is not being held prisoner".

Communique of Administrator Atanasije of Diocese of Raska-Prizren, retired Bishop of Zahumlje and Herzegovina

Upon the decision of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church no. 131 of February 11, 2010 signed by His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia, His Grace Bishop Artemije of Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija was dismissed of the managing duties of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren until the completion of the initiated canonical procedure, or until the next session of the Holy Assembly of Bishops. His Grace Bishop Artemije is not forbidden to serve and can stay at the seat or other place or monastery of these or other Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church, but with the permission of the newly appointed administrator or other Bishop in charge or  other Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Communique of the Holy Synod of Bishops due to beginning the procedure of determing canonical responsibility of Bishop Artemije

Today at the session of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, chaired by Patriarch Irinej of Serbia, it has been decided to initiate the procedure of determining the canonical responsibility of His Grace Bishop Artemije of Raska and Prizren in the first instance (Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church art. 70, sect. 20 and 356), with His obligation to cooperate during the procedure, and to be removed from the management of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren until the completion of the initiated procedure, or until the next regular session of the Holy Assembly of Bishops.

His Grace Bishop Artemije of Raska and Prizren can stay and serve in one of the monasteries or in a different place on the territory of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren or beyond it until the completion of the procedure, in an agreement with the administrator, or with the permission of the competent diocesan bishop, but without any intervention in the jurisdiction of the administrator or any of diocesan bishops.

On the basis of art. 70. sect. 21 of the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church, His Grace retired Bishop Atanasije of Zahumlje and Herzegovina to be established as the Administrator of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren with all the rights and duties of the diocesan bishop.