Address of Bishop Longin to the Diocesan Assembly 13th and 14th of June 2014

Dear brother clergy, 
honorable delegates of the church-school congregations, parishes and monasteries, 
representatives of the Kolos of Serbian Sisters, 
our dear youth.

In speaking to the faithful in Corinth, Apostle Paul said, “Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation. For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears” (2 Cor. 7: 4-5). If we think about it for a bit, our time, which appears very different from the time of the above quoted verse, is actually very similar to it and to its conditions.

I also have great faith in you and am proud of you, my honorable spiritual children. I know of your great love for our Holy Church. I am a witness of your care for her good. I am aware of the challenges and obstacles which you face in your work in the Church. But, thank God, you do not waver. You have worked tirelessly for years for the good of our spiritual being. This is what I constantly see before my spiritual eyes. I realize that every one of us who strives to remain on Christ's path has certain flaws and shortcomings. But if we “bear each other's burdens” as Saint Paul says, if we see each other's strengths and overlook the flaws, then we will build our common house on solid foundation.