Climate Change and International Security Report

The High Representative and the European Commission to the European Council produced this report for the European Council on climate change and security. The introduction states, "The report considers how the full range of EU instruments, including Community and CFSP/ESDP action, can be used alongside mitigation and adaptation policies to address the security risks. It also considers the implications for the intensification of political dialogue with third countries. A post-2012 agreement has to be developed by the end of 2009 and all levers of EU foreign relations must work towards this end.

Presanctified Liturgy

Communion during Great Lent

Because Great Lent is a season of repentance, fasting, and intensified prayer, the Orthodox Church regards more frequent reception of communion as especially desirable at that time. However, the Divine Liturgy has a festal character not in keeping with the season. Thus, the Presanctified Liturgy is celebrated instead; the Divine Liturgy is only performed on Saturdays and Sundays. Although it is possible to celebrate this service on any weekday of Great Lent, the service is prescribed to be celebrated only on Wednesdays and Fridays of Lent, Thursday of the fifth week of Lent (when the Great Canon of St. Andrew is read), and Monday to Wednesday of Holy Week. Common parish practice is to celebrate it on as many as possible of these days.

Bishop Atanasije Clebrates Memorial Service for the Victims of the NATO Bombings Against Serbia

At 12:30 p.m today, the 24th of March 2008, Rt. Rev. Bishop of Hvostno Atanasije (Rakita) is to celebrate a Memorial service in occasion of the 9th anniversary of the NATO bombings against our country. The service in memory of the victims of this criminal act will be held in the Church of Saint Mark in Belgrade. with the blessing of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle.

Archbishop Hilarion of Australia and New Zealand disquieted over Australian recognition of Kosovo

The Sydney-based spiritual leader of the Russian Orthodox Church in Australia and spokesman for the Russian Community in Australia, , in a letter of 13 March 2008 to Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, noted his observance of the actions of the Australian government, which has joined but a minority of members of the United Nations to legitimize the regime in Kosovo, with great disquiet.

Congratulatulations for the Purim

Info service of the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox church congratulate Purim to all the jewish faithful.

Purim, a Jewish holiday, commemorates the escape of the Jewish people from annihilation by the ancient Persian Empire. The day is celebrated with a traditional feast, exchange of food between friends, donating to charities and reading the story of Purim from the Megillah or Purim Scroll.

Happy Easter

Info service of the Holy Synod of Serbian Orthodox Church congratualte all the faithful of the Catholic, Evangelical and Reformated Church.

Easter is celebrated to memorialize the resurrection of Jesus Christ from his death three days after he was crucified and tortured on Good Friday. It is a Christian holiday and falls in springtime, marking the end of the Lent season. Easter is one of the most important and holiest holidays in the Christian almanac. Lent season is, in fact, forty-six-days long starting from Ash Wednesday and ending with Easter. The six Sundays falling under this period are not considered a part of Lent. Thus, though fasts are observed in this season, Sundays are excluded from the fast period as they are considered to be a commemoration of Easter Sunday.