First Annual Symposium “Serbian Theology Today” is held

On Friday and Saturday, on May 29 and 30, 2009 on the the Faculty of the Orthodox Theology was held the First Annual Symposium " Serbian Theology Today" organized by a newly established Institute for theological research which works by the Faculty. In a two-day work of the symposium were present dean of the Faculty, Prof. Dr Irinej Bulovic, Bishop of Bachka, minister of Faith and prodean for science, Prof. Dr Bogoljub Shijakovic, retired professors of the faculty Prof. Dr. Amfilohije Radovic, Metropolitan of Zahumlje and the Littoral, and Prof. Dr Atanasije Jevtic, retired Bishop of Zahumlje and Hercegovina, professors of the faculty, professors, graduates and postgraduates from many faculties in our country and from abroad and assistants in tuition at the Faculty of the Orthodox Theology of the University of Belgrade.

Main Cemetery in Stapar Desecrated

At the main cemetery in Stapar, in the evening between May 31 and June 1, 2009, vandals destroyed and desecrated around three hundred graves. An examination at the scene of the crime was completed the same morning and besides the executive of the Secretariat of interior affairs and the assistant to the public defendant, the judge of the township court of Sombor was also present. Criminal charges were pressed against the unknown vandals for damages done to the cemetery.

EMMANUEL - The Only Begotten and Firstborn among Many Brethren

In Emmanuel, the second anthology of Bishop Athanasius' articles to appear in English, His Grace explores themes of Orthodox Christology, Soteriology, Ecclesiology, and Gnoseology. How can we know Who God is? How can we know who we are, as human persons created in His image and likeness? How can we become one with Him? Bishop Athanasius examines these and other foundational questions in depth in this volume, drawing from a wealth of Scriptural and patristic sources. In discussing diverse theological subjects, he always returns to his overarching theme: the communion that man can have with God through Jesus Christ the God-man, within Christ's Church and above all in the Holy Eucharist. His exquisite and unique way of engaging the reader in mutual dialogue, with the living Eucharistic experience permeating his every thought, instills in the reader a burning desire for that communion.

Symposium: Serbian Theology Today – The Faculty of the Orthodox Theology, in Belgrade, May 29-30 2009

His Grace Bishop Dr Irinej of Bachka, a dean of the Faculty of the Orthodox Theology of the University of Belgrade has opened today at this highest church educational institution the First Annual Symposium on the theme Serbian Theology Today. On a plenary session His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral and Their Graces Bishop Ignjatije of Branichevo and retired Bishop Atanasije of Zahumlje and Hercegovina addressed the gathered.

The scientific gathering except eminent guests from Serbia and abroad also was attended by Professor Dr. Bogoljub Shijakovic, minister of Faith in the Government of the Republic of Serbia, His Grace Bishop Jovan of Dioclea as well as professors and students of the Faculty of the Orthodox Theology, the Academy of the SOC for arts and conservation and other faculties of the University of Belgrade.

First pastoral visit to Serbs in Zambia

During period May 18^th till May 22^nd of this year, Rector and Dean of St. Apostle Thomas Orthodox Church in Johannesburg, Archimandrite Pantelejmon, had visited members of Serbian community in African country of Zambia. Serbs started relocating to Zambia in mid 1960's. This had been the first visit by a Serbian priest to our Orthodox believers, living in Lusaka in approximately 50 years - and as such it had been of historical value for Serbian people and Orthodox Church in Africa.

In a response to a response

The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, as well as all public in Serbia and abroad, with shock and regret received a cover media news on brutal physical violence as a "therapeutical treatment" at a "spiritual rehabilitation centre" which has been functioning for many years obviously with the knowledge and with the approval of His Grace Bishop Dr Artemije of Raska and Prizren, and governed by protopresbyter Branislav Peranovic and his assistant priest Dejan Jakovljevic. It is situated in the Diocese of Raska and Prizren, close to the monastery of Crna Reka, actually next to the relics of St Peter of Korish, a witness of God's love and an antipode to any kind of violence. On this poignant and unpleasant event the Holy Synod of Bishops informed the public with the communiqué of May, 23 in which condemned brutal methods of the treatment of those afflicted with the illness of drug addiction, and called on His Grace Bishop Artemije to dismiss illegal stationary near Crna Reka and to subject wrongdoers of this hideous acts to canonical responsibility, and also called on competent civil authorities to investigate this case and take measures within their competence, while to the victims of this violence and to all those who have been affected in any way by it , the Holy Synod expressed its most sincere sorrow.