Nativity Encyclical 2009

The Serbian Orthodox Church
to her spiritual children
at Christmas, 2009

+AMPHILOHIJE

By the Grace of God
Orthodox Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Coastlands, Locum Tenens of the throne of the Serbian Patriarchs, with all the Hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church, to all the clergy, monastics, and all the sons and daughters of our Holy Church: grace, mercy and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, with the joyous Christmas greeting:

Peace from God! Christ is Born!

Again this year, our dear spiritual children, here we are before the cradle of the Divine Child Jesus Christ. The immense mystery beyond comprehension of the birth of God the Logos took place in a lowly cave in Bethlehem, which from that moment, once and for all time, became the center of the world – the center of God’s glory and a source of comfort to all those who have sought after God throughout human history.

Reading of Nativity Epistle

On Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at 11:00am, at the Patriarchate court in Belgrade, His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral, locum tenens of the Patriarchate throne, will read the Nativity Epistle for the media.

World Heritage of Serbia

The publication "World Heritage of Serbia," recommended Serbia in the world as a particularly attractive cultural area, said Minister Nebojsa Bradic. UNESCO recognized the publication as the authentic contribution to the world cultural heritage.

Minister of Culture Nebojsa Bradic said that with the publication of "World Heritage of Serbia,"  Serbia is recommended worldwide as a particularly attractive cultural area.

In the publication, which will be presented on Monday to the public at the Atrium of the National Museum in Belgrade, the Serbian herigate is represented  that the experts of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized as the authentic contribution to the world cultural heritage.

To Prime Minister Mrs Jadranka Kosor

Several days before Christmas, feast that is called the feast of Peace and good will toward men, we were unpleasantly surprised and disturbed by the news about foundation of the Association of Citizens "Croatian Orthodox Organisation" in Ogulin.
At first glance, while searching the web site of this Association, we noticed the misuse of the photograph of the Serbian Orthodox monastery Gomirje. Namely, monastery Gomirje was founded in 1600 by the monks who came from monastery Krka. Since then, this monastery has been a spiritual centre of Orthodox Serbs from the region of Gorski Kotar.

New Year

New Year is the day when begins the next calendar and date cycle in countries which use the solar and similar calendars and it marks the first day of the next year.

Nowadays, most countries use the Gregorian calendar and the beginning of the new year is celebrated on January 1. Celebrating New Year in Serbia, or Yugoslavia, became particularly significant  after the end of the Second World War when the attempted extermination of the importance that a large part of the Christian population from this region attached to the celebration of Christmas, so that the attention was then focused on then the less celebrated and unpopular calendar "New Year".

Holy Synod of the Russian Church decisions on external affairs

At its meeting on 25 December 2009, the Holy Synod made a number of decisions concerning the external work of the Russian Orthodox Church. Regarding the Patriarch Kirill's report on his visit to Azerbaijan for the 30th anniversary of the Caucasus Muslim Board Chairman Allahshuqur Pasha-zade's being in the capacity of sheikh-ul-Islam and his meeting there with Patriarch-Catholicos Iliya II of All Georgia, it was agreed that the meeting was important for strengthening and developing fraternal relations between the Russian and Georgian Orthodox Churches. As had been agreed with the head of the Georgian Church, the Holy Synod resolved that Archimandrite Roman (Lukin), Moscow diocese, be sent to Tbilisi for pastoral care of Russian-speaking believers and be charged with representing the position of the Russian Orthodox Church as needed. With regard to the talk that Patriarch Kirill had with Azerbaijani President Ildar Aliev, it was agreed to develop cooperation with the Azerbaijani authorities. Gratitude was expressed to Allahshuqur Pasha-zade for the warm welcome in Baku and importance of strengthening relations with the Muslim Board for the Caucasus was noted.