On Fasting

Fasting, in our days, has become one of the most neglected spiritual values. Because of misunderstandings regarding the nature of fasting, because of confused and reversed priorities in its use, many of today's Orthodox Christians fast very little, or disregard fasting altogether.

The Great and Holy Council of the Orthodox Church which is scheduled to be convened in the near future has placed the problem of fasting as one of the first items on its agenda. It is hoped that through this Council the age-old practice of the Church to use fasting as one of the important means of spiritual growth will regain its proper place in the life of the Church.

Kosovo: A Point of Transit for Drug Traffic

WASHINGTON - Kosovo represents one of the transit countries over which mainly heroin produced in Turkey and Afghanistan is being transferred to Western European countries. But it is also a „promising market for drugs'', according to the 2008 U.S. State Department's International Narcotis Control Stategy Report.

Pan-Orthodox Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in Los Angeles

The faithful of the Metropolis of San Francisco, especially those in the greater Los Angeles area, are encouraged to attend a truly historic celebration of the Sunday of Orthodoxy, March 16, 2008 at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Los Angeles. This will be the first annual Pan-Orthodox Hierarchical Divine Liturgy with presiding bishops: His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco (Greek Orthodox), His Grace Bishop Joseph of Los Angeles and the West (Antiochian Orthodox), His Grace Bishop Maxim of Western America (Serbian Orthodox), and His Grace Bishop Benjamin of San Francisco and the West (OCA Orthodox).

This all-English service will begin with Matins at 8:30 a.m., and the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m., followed by the Procession of Icons.

Communique of the Holy Synod of Bishops its meeting in Peć Patriarchate on march 4, 2008

The members of the Holy Synod of Bishops [of the Serbian Orthodox Church], escorted by an Italian KFOR contingent, arrived yesterday in the holy lavra of the Peć Patriarchate Monastery, where they held their fifth regular session this year, having first served Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the Church of the Holy Apostles.

Holding today's session in this patriarchal seat and ancient spiritual heart of the Serbian Orthodox Church is a sign of the Church's concern for its holy shrines and its faithful in Kosovo and Metohija, who were addressed with words of encouragement and paternal love in this period burdened with suffering and new trails.

Kosovo Rally in Los Angeles

New Masters in Kosovo

An International Steering Group composed of the representatives of 15 states has been formed in Vienna. It has orderd the implementation of Martii Ahtisaari’s plan in the Southern Serbian Province

Беч Vienna –An International Steering Group for Kosovo (ISG) was formed yesterday. It is composed of 15 states. It was decided at their first meeting that Pieter Feith be the International Civil Representative in Kosovo (ICR). Veit said during a press conference at the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the ISG was “the significant coalition of states, friends of the independent state of Kosovo’’ and that it was made up of five members of the Contact group – the U.S.A, Great Britain, France, Germany and Italy, as well as Austria, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Turkey, Finland, Belgium, Denmark, Hungary, Slovenia, and Switzerland.