Serbian Orthodox Church

Two Centuries Since the First Serbian Uprising

On the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord in the Temple (15 February 2004), His Holiness Serbian Patriarch PAVLE celebrated the Divine Liturgy under a tent in the courtyard of the Church of the Ascension of the Lord at Orasac, with the concelebration of the host, Bishop Jovan of Shumadia, and the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops: Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral, Bishop Lavrentije of Sabac-Valjevo, Bishop Irinej of Nis, Bishop Grigorije of Zaholm-Herzegovina, as well as with Metropolitan Nikolaj of Dabar-Bosnia, Bishops: Lukijan of Budim, Georgije of Canada, Irinej of Backa, Artemije of Raska-Prizren, retired Bishop Atanasije of Zaholm-Herzegovina, as well as Bishop Pahomije of Vranje, Ignatije of Branicevo, Joanikije of Budim-Niksic and Vicar Bishop Marko of Dremvica of the Archdiocese of Ohrid.

St Sava celebrated in the Representation of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Moscow

The Patronal Feast of St. Sava the first Serbian Archbishop was commemorated with the celebration of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Representation of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Moscow. Archbishop Christopher of Prague and Slovakia concelebrated with Archimandrite Anthony (Pantelic), Dean of the Representational Church, and other clergy. Attending the liturgy were staff from the Embassy of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, Mr. Nebojsa Jerkovic Ambassador Gordan Milinic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as numerous Serbian and Russian faithful.

In keeping with Serbian tradition, following the Divine Liturgy, the festal bread was cut and festal wheat blessed, both prepared by the host of the celebration, Mr. Vucic. Recitations by Serbian children, catechetical students at the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul, completed the Patronal celebration.

Desecration of Serbian shrines in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Forced entry into Orthodox churches and shrines frequently occurs on the territory of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Metropolitanate of Dabro-Bosnia frequently addressed complaints to the Federation Ministry of the Interior, however the answer was always the same that the perpetrators were underage individuals. Although judging by the gravity of the situation, it was obvious that children could not execute the same.