British court confirms Russian Orthodox Church's right to London Cathedral

The UK High Court has confirmed the belonging of the London Cathedral to the Sourozh Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church. The "judgment confirms that the Church should continue to have the benefit and use of such assets, including the London Cathedral," the Moscow Patriarchate website said on Monday.

"The judgment also recognizes that the Church is a thriving community, that it has in recent years enjoyed a substantial increase in membership," the website said. "The cathedral will hold its usual daily services at which all the faithful are very welcome to attend."

Word of Editor for year 2009 edition of “Svetosavsko Ognjiste” (“Saint Sava fireplace“)

The past year brought spiritual happiness to Serbian Orthodox Church, to it's faithful children and to members of Serbian Church Community in South Africa. We have celebrated important jubilee - 30 years since St. Apostle Thomas Temple was built in Johannesburg, as the only Serbian Orthodox temple on African continent.

Importance of this jubilee and effort that was necessary for such importance to be presented are way beyond our strengths, ability and available space in our magazine Svetosavsko Ognjiste. However, with God's help, we have tried to present, within ninth edition of one and only magazine in Serbian language in Africa, the spirit of celebration of this major jubilee, as such the majority of this edition will contain words and photographs related to mentioned jubilee and visit by official delegation of Serbian Orthodox Church for this important celebration.

Bishop Irinej attends Name Day Celebration of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I at The Phanar

While visiting The City of Constantinople and The Great Church of Christ, 10-11 June 2009, His Grace Bishop Irinej of Australia and New Zealand attended the Name Day Celebration of His All Holiness the Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I.

Representatives from throughout the Orthodox world gathered at the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople to honour Patriarch Bartholomew on the celebration of his patronal feast, the Holy Apostle Bartholomew. The distinguished list of delegates and guests, which included representatives of the various local Orthodox Churches, as well as members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps and Archons of the Ecumenical Throne, was headed by His Beatitude Hieronymos II, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece and Primate of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Greece.

Communiqué after the meeting of members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the SOC with President of Serbia

The President of the Republic Boris Tadic talked today with members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church - Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral and bishops Irinej of Nish, Irinej of Bachka, Fotije of Dalmatia and Grigorije of Zahumlje and Herzegovina.

The President of Serbia talked with the members of the Synod about all actual social issues.

The President Tadic informed the representatives of the Church that the Society for building the St Sava Cathedral on Vrachar, which is presided by him, will make efforts in following period in order to finish the cathedral.

In Belgrade, June 15, 2009

Information service of the Office of the President of Serbia and

Information service of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Formal finish of the school year for orthodox catechisers at Archbishopric of Belgrade and Karlovac

The School year of 2008/09 has been finished in praying with the liturgical gathering at the church of St Basil of Ostrog on Bezanija. Catechisers of the Archbishopric of Belgrade and Karlovac led by His Grace Bishop Atanasije of Hvosno, the president of the Committee for religious education and other members of this church body which observe and support the application of religious education in state schools on the territory of Belgrade, and in this way they offered prayers to God for successful work with children during the previous year. A great number of catechisers received the communion.

After Holy Eucharist a meeting was held. His Grace Bishop Atanasije spoke to the catechisers on importance of continual perfection of themselves in fields of academic competence and also missionary of the Church. He also pointed out that the Catechetical Committee of the Archbishopric will support more the catechisers , hence , in fall, there are planned visits to schools and problems of catechisers in their work will be observed there.

Russian Orthodox Church opposed the secular monopoly for social world order

The Moscow Patriarchate believes that the secular humanistic society model should not be imposed on the world as the only correct and forward-looking.

"In my view, the secular project has been exhausted. It gives people no vigor, it fails to inspire them in emergency, and it is unable to teach them self-denial and self-control," head of the Synodal Church and Society Department Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin said at a Moscow conference dedicated to relationships between religion and the state.