Opening prayer of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church

On the day of the Saint Abramius the Recluse and the Saint Anastasia the Roman, His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral served Holy Hierarchal Liturgy at the Cathedral Church in Belgrade, with the concelebration of Their Graces Bishop Irinej of Australia and New Zealand and Bishop Teodosije of Lipljan and attended by most Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

At the end of Holy Liturgy, at 9.00, at the Patriarchate Chapel of Saint Simeon the Myrrh-gusher Bishop Irinej of Australia and New Zealand served a rite of the invocation of the Holy Spirit which was the beginning of the formal sitting of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The ceremony was attended by all Bishops of our Church.

Tomorrow begins the formal sitting of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church

On Tuesday , November 11, 2008, after Holy Hierarchal Liturgy and the invocation of the Holy Spirit at the Cathedral Church in Belgrade begins formal sitting of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The Holy liturgy is beginning at 6.30.

All bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church from Homeland and abroad will attend this supreme hierarchic representation and church legislative authority in affairs of faith, service, church order, internal ordering of the Church and supreme judicial power in its competence.

At the end of its work, The Holy Assembly of Bishops will publish Communique.

Bishop Hilarion of Vienna issues open letter concerning the question of his candidacy as OCA Metropolitan

In an open letter sent to the OCA Chancery on November 6, 2008, His Grace, Bishop Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Vienna and Austria addressed recent discussions about his possible candidacy as Metropolitan of All America and Canada.

Bishop Hilarion's letter reads as follows.

"In recent weeks my name was mentioned many times in connection with the forthcoming elections of the OCA primate. I also received letters, e-mails and phone calls asking for permission to nominate me for this position at the All-American Council. I am grateful for this unexpected outpouring of love and appreciation, and I am humbled and touched by the trust that so many Orthodox Americans apparently have in me.

Paris Cardinal praises Russian Orthodox Church

The archbishop of Paris says he found the Russian Orthodox Church to be a "living and holy Church, strong because of the testimony of its martyrs." Cardinal André Vingt-Trois affirmed this in a communiqué after his trip to Moscow last week. The cardinal was returning the visit made by Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II to Paris last October.

Seminary Chancellor awarded honorary doctorate

On October 28, 2008 at a fall academic convocation at Nashotah House Seminary in Nashotah, Wisconsin, the degree Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, was bestowed on SVS Chancellor, Archpriest Chad Hatfield.

Bishop Maxim visits Honolulu

His Grace Bishop Maxim celebrated the Holy Liturgy at the St. Lazar Serbian Orthodox Parish on Saturday, November 1th, 2008 in Honolulu, Hawaii, as he did this year in July. The Liturgy was served at the Most Holy Theotokos of Iviron (ROCOR) with the assistence of Fr Blasko Paraklis. During the past year the Holy Liturgy was served in Honolulu four times and the parish was blessed with several Baptisms. After the Divine Liturgy, there was a small banquet.

Source: www.westsrbdio.org