Serbian Orthodox Church
Christmas Eve: Welcoming the Nativity of the Lord
6. January 2019 - 14:59
His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch officiated the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the Cathedral church of Saint Michael the Archangel in Belgrade in the morning of a Christmas Eve, 6 January 2019. (photo gallery).
His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch will officiate the services in the evening of the Christmas Eve and on Christmas at Saint Sava Cathedral in the Vracar district.
On Christmas Eve, on 6 January 2019 at 4 p.m., His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch will attend burning of the Yule logs (badnjak) at the plateau in front of Saint Sava Cathedral in the Vracar district. On this occasion, the Patriarch will serve solemn Vesper service in the crypt of the Saint Sava Cathedral. On Christmas, 7 January 2019, His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch will serve the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the crypt of the Saint Sava Cathedral beginning at 9 a.m.
Nativity Message of Bishop Maxim of Western America
6. January 2019 - 14:58
BY THE GRACE OF GOD ORTHODOX BISHOP OF WESTERN AMERICA
GRACE, PEACE AND MERCY FROM THE GOD-CHILD CHRIST THE SAVIOR
My dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
On the sacred day of the Nativity and Holy Theophany, we celebrate the greatest Offerings presented to human-kind, the gift of the Lord Himself and the gift of eternal life. God the Father gave His Son, and the Son gave Himself so that we might be restored to the life and communion for which we were created.
As we bow in reverence and thanksgiving to the Source of Life, let us offer all our being freely for His Glory, sharing in the life and peace in the Church which exists as a constant Theophany.
Bishop Irinej Congratulates Congressman Stivers
5. January 2019 - 23:14
On January 2, 2019, His Grace Bishop Irinej, on behalf of the Diocese of Eastern America of the Serbian Orthodox Church, extended warm congratulations and heartfelt gratitude to Congressman Steven Ernst ‘Steve’ Stivers (R-OH) as he began his new role as co-chair of the Congressional Serbian American Caucus.
The Bishop expressed his confidence that under his leadership, the Caucus will continue its important work bringing the United States and Serbia closer together by affirming shared values and historic ties as a firm foundation upon which future relations should be established.
Ordination of Stefan Djoric to the Holy Diaconate
4. January 2019 - 20:53
On the 23rd of December 2018, His grace Bishop Irinej, presided over the celebration of the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy at the Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Ellwood City, PA.
During the liturgy, a tonsured reader, Stefan Djoric, St. Vladimir’s Seminarian, was ordained into the Holy Diaconate.
Nativity Message of Bishop Irinej of Eastern America
4. January 2019 - 11:05
The Star, which long ago appeared over a cave outside of Bethlehem, continuously reveals for us the mystery of the birth of the Divine Christ Child. Christ is born – rejoice, beloved! Rejoice for the light of the Nativity also reveals the intended purpose of humanity and, therefore, our own being. The Word of God – Light of Light, True God of True God – as we faithfully proclaim in the Creed, became man, so that the same Star, which shone upon Him, may continue to shine upon us, illumining our hearts and minds with the Gospel of Truth and Righteousness and, thereby, the promise of salvation for all.
The light of the cruciform Star of Bethlehem, as it reveals the Sun of Righteousness to the world, will also reveal in us the mystery of our humanity and, with it, the salvific nature of incarnate love and community. Through the Gospel encounters of the Nativity, we are summoned to illumination by the light-bearing precepts of family, friendship, fellowship and faith. Through the birth of Christ in the flesh, the fullness of His humanity is realized ultimately in His sacrifice on the Cross, as foreshadowed in the gifts of the Magi, and fulfilled in the light of the Resurrection.
