Serbian Orthodox Church

Bishop Irinej of Eastern America: The 800th Anniversary of Autocephaly

IRINEJ
BY THE GRACE OF GOD BISHOP OF EASTERN AMERICA THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

Most beloved Clergy and Monastics, Sons and Daughters,
faithful Children of the Diocese of Eastern America of our most holy Church!

With abounding joy emanating from a paternal heart, We greet you on this most radiant and most auspicious occasion in our collective history, both sacred and secular: 

THE 800TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AUTOCEPHALY OF THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH 1219 – 2019

Blessed Unity of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Republic of Serbia and Republika Srpska, unified in Saint Sava's Spirit

Serbian Patriarch Irinej: “These children are our future! They are following the path of Saint Sava! Dear spiritual children: Love and respect Serbdom – love and respect Orthodoxy!”

The magnificent solemn academy, as the central cultural event marking the celebration of eight centuries of autocephaly of the Serbian Orthodox Church, was held in the packed hall of the Sava Center on 8 October 2019. This extraordinary ceremony was sponsored by the President of the Republic of Serbia.

Archbishop Nikitas at the Coptic New Year (Nayrouz)

On the afternoon of Tuesday, October 8, 2019, Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain participated in the celebrations of the Coptic New Year’s Day (Nayrouz) at St. Margaret’s Church in Westminster Abbey, at the invitation of Archbishop Angaelos of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of London.

Saint Sava's Testament: 800th Anniversary of Autocephaly of the Serbian Orthodox Church Celebrated in Belgrade

His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej and the President of
the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic respectively were awarded with the Order of Saint Sava of the first degree by the decision of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Serbian Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Milorad Dodik was awarded with the Order of Saint Simeon the Myrrh-Gusher.

On the occasion of observing eight centuries of the autocephaly of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Belgrade’s Center “Sava”, a solemn academy entitled “Saint Sava’s Testament” was held. Patriarch Irinej and President Aleksandar Vucic were respectively awarded with the Order of Saint Sava of the first degree.

Njegos Serbian Youth Chorus at Cleveland Museum of Art

A beautiful concert was given by our Njegos Youth Chorus of St. Sava Cathedral in Parma, Ohio. The chorus performed at the Cleveland Museum of Art during the International Community Day celebration. The program included music to celebrate the 800 years of the Serbian Orthodox Church. To open the program the chorus sang the Hymn to St. Sava to honor our first Archbishop of the church.

Hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the Dechani Monastery

By arriving to Kosovo and Metohija Hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church confirm the firm commitment of our Church to preservation of Kosovo and Metohija with our faithful people and holy shrines.

A group of twenty-two bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church headed by Jovan, Archbishop John of Ohrid, and Metropolitans Amfilohije of Montenegro and Hrizostom of Dabar-Bosnia, after a visit of the Pec Patriarchate on 7 October 2019 when they celebrated the jubilee of the Serbian Church, was ceremoniously welcomed at the historic Dechani Monastery.