Celebration of Lazarus Saturday at the MMA in Belgrade

His Eminence Archbishop Amfilohije of Cetinje and Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral has served today on the holiday of Lazarus Saturday Holy Hierarchal Liturgy at a new-established side chapel at the MMA in Belgrade which is dedicated to St. Luke Archbishop of Simferopol and Crimea, the saint, surgeon, painter and hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church of the 20^th century. His Holiness Patriarch Pavle of Serbia also took part in the liturgy, who celebrated by praying his family patron saint.

Lazarus Saturday at St. Sava church in Belgrade

His Eminence Archbishop Amfilohije of Cetinje and Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral served evening service on the Eve of Palm Sunday at the small church of St Sava at Vrachar with the concelebration of the priesthood of this holy temple. At the end of the evening service, after a consecration of five-bread vessel, Metropolitan Amfilohije addressed the gathered faithful people and consecrated willow branches. After that, a holiday procession followed around the small church and the cathedral.

    hierodeacon Jovan (Panic) 

Meeting between Patriarch Kirill and President Lukashenko takes more than three hours

The meeting between Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko took more than three and a half hours and was the Patriarch's most lengthy meeting with a head-of-state.

"I wanted to attract your attention to the open character of the talks. I wished to learn the position of the president on various issues," Kirill said.

$2 Million Gift Funds Chair in Orthodox Theology and Culture

Fordham University has received a $2 million gift to establish the Archbishop Demetrios Chair in Orthodox Theology and Culture.

The donation comes from the Jaharis Family Foundation, which provides grants to arts, cultural and religious institutions.

Media Announcement – Paschal Epistle of the SOC

 Upon the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Pavle of Serbia, His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral will read the Paschal Epistle of the Serbian Orthodox Church on Saturday, April 18, 2009 at noon at the court of the Serbian Patriarchate in Belgrade.

We call all representatives of media to accredit their journalists and cameramen no later than Friday, April 17 , 2009 at 2 P.M.  Applications for an accreditation which contain a list of journalists and cameramen attending this event should be sent to info@spc.rs. Subsequent applications will not be accepted.

Information Service of the SOC

Aid to the suffering people of Zimbabwe

His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, in his concern for the suffering people of Zimbabwe, made an imploring request to the "SOLIDARITY" NGO of the Church of Greece, for food to be sent to this African country.

The above-named NGO, in reply to His Beatitude's request, passed on to the International Developmental Co-operation of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as a start to the assistance, the following amounts in humanistic aid: 1800 kg sugar, 2922 kg flour, and 1415 kg olive oil.