Statements

Appeal of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej

The disaster that has affected the territory of Serbia and of the countries in the region, incites us all to foster Christian compassion and brotherly, selfless aid.

We call upon all the professionals and  all the people who are able and willing to help, to contact headquarters and representatives of state and local authorities in their places of residence and to make themselves available for the rescue of human lives and protection from floods.

We call upon clergy, the faithful and all the people of good will in Belgrade to begin collecting food, clothes, shoes and bedclothes in all the churches, starting from tomorrow morning. The aid will be collected as long as needed.

At the same time, We ask all the people of good will in the country and abroad to join in an organized manner and help in one’s own way in fighting against this distress that befell us unexpectedly.

Serbian Patriarch Irinej

The Holy Assembly of Bishops has begun with sessions

Hierarchs gathered at the Studenica monaster. The rite of Invocation of the Holy Spirit was performed in the church of Sts. Apostles Peter and Paul in Ras near Novi Pazar

This annual gathering of the Holy Assembly of Bishops began with the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy at the Cathedral church of the Most Holy Mother of God in the monastery of Studenica on Wednesday, 14 May 2014. His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, officiated the Divine Liturgy with the concelebration of a number of bishops.

Serbian Patriarch and hierarchs arrive in Studenica

The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church convened the Holy Assembly of Bishops into a regular session for 2014. 

Marking the 900^th anniversary of the nativity of Saint Simeon the Myrrh-Gusher, this annual Assembly of Bishops will begin with the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral church of Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God at the Studenica Monastery on 14 May 2014 at 8.30 a.m., while the solemn rite of the Invocation of the Holy Spirit at the beginning of the work of the Assembly will be officiated at the church of Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Ras near Novi Pazar at 2:00 p.m. A working section of the Holy Assembly of Bishops will commence on 15 May 2014 at the Serbian Patriarchate in Belgrade.

Тhe Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church convened

Marking the 900^th anniversary of the nativity of Saint Simeon the Myrrh-Gusher, this annual Assembly of Bishops will begin with the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral church of Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God at the Studenica Monastery on 14 May 2014 at 8.30 a.m., while the solemn rite of the Invocation of the Holy Spirit at the beginning of the work of the Assembly will be officiated at the church of Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Ras near Novi Pazar at 2:00 p.m.

A working section of the Holy Assembly of Bishops will commence on 15 May 2014 at the Serbian Patriarchate in Belgrade.

AirSERBIA Review: Interview - Bishop Irinej Dobrijevic

Paschal Encyclical

THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH TO HER SPIRITUAL CHILDREN AT PASCHA, 2014

I R I N E J

BY THE GRACE OF GOD ORTHODOX ARCHBISHOP OF PEC, METROPOLITAN OF BELGRADE-KARLOVCI AND SERBIAN PATRIARCH, WITH ALL THE HIERARCHS OF THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH – TO ALL THE CLERGY, MONASTICSS, AND ALL THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF OUR HOLY CHURCH: GRACE, MERCY AND PEACE FROM GOD THE FATHER, AND OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, WITH THE JOYOUS PASCHAL GREETING:

CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN!

Today is the Spring-time of our souls,
For coming forth from the tomb,
Christ shines like the sun, Dispelling the gloom of our sins!
We will sing out to Him, for gloriously has He been glorified!
(Paschal service hymn)

When an early spring arrives after a long and cold winter, all of nature and God's creation rejoices in the sun and its warm rays and energy which illuminates and warms everything and all things without exception. Everything then glorifies the Lord, the Giver of sun and spring. So do we, dear brothers and sisters and our dear spiritual children, after a cold and terrible winter of sin, especially after the killing of the God-Man Jesus Christ on Holy Friday on Golgotha, seeing today the Resurrected Christ, do we joyfully exclaim and sing: Today is the Spring-time of our souls! Christ – the Sun of life from the East – has risen and shone from the tomb. He has expelled a dark storm of our sins! Him let us magnify for He has been glorified! That is why we are joyful today, that is why together with the angels in heaven and with all people of this world do we gloriously sing: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.