Statements

Communique from the 4th Pre-conciliar All-Orthodox Conference in Chambesy from June 6-12 , 2009

The Fourth pre-conciliar all-orthodox conference - which was organized by His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, with the blessing of Their Graces Heads of local Orthodox Churches, expressed at their gathering at the Phanar from October 10-12, 2008 - was held at the Orthodox Center of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambesy (Geneve) from June 6-12, 2009.

Communiqué after the meeting of members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the SOC with President of Serbia

The President of the Republic Boris Tadic talked today with members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church - Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral and bishops Irinej of Nish, Irinej of Bachka, Fotije of Dalmatia and Grigorije of Zahumlje and Herzegovina.

The President of Serbia talked with the members of the Synod about all actual social issues.

The President Tadic informed the representatives of the Church that the Society for building the St Sava Cathedral on Vrachar, which is presided by him, will make efforts in following period in order to finish the cathedral.

In Belgrade, June 15, 2009

Information service of the Office of the President of Serbia and

Information service of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Text of the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church for North and South America established

The Holy Assembly of Bishops, at the session of May 21, 2009 under ABno. 79/ord. 148, brought this decision:

To finally approve the established text of the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church for the North and South America, which is to be effective on a day of bringing this decision, or May 21/8 2009.

With this decision of the Holy Assembly of Bishops the Transient regulations for management ceased to apply between the Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA and Canada and the Metropolitanate of New Gracanica.

The Decision of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church on redistribution of dioceses

The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, on its session on May 21, 2009, by the number ABno, 49/ord. 147, brought this decision:

Upon the clause 16 of the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and with the established suggestion of the Episcopal Council of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America and two members of the Holy Assembly of Bishops (His Grace Bishop Hrizostom of Zhicha and His Grace Bishop Irinej of Bachka), to execute the redistribution of existing dioceses of the Serbian Orthodox Church: Midwestern American, Eastern American, Western American and Canadian of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA and Canada; and Dioceses for America and Canada of the Metropolitanate of New Gracanica, with certain renaming of their titles and moving of their seats, in order to the canonic territory of the Serbian Orthodox Church on the territory of the North and South America now is consisting of:

In a response to a response

The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, as well as all public in Serbia and abroad, with shock and regret received a cover media news on brutal physical violence as a "therapeutical treatment" at a "spiritual rehabilitation centre" which has been functioning for many years obviously with the knowledge and with the approval of His Grace Bishop Dr Artemije of Raska and Prizren, and governed by protopresbyter Branislav Peranovic and his assistant priest Dejan Jakovljevic. It is situated in the Diocese of Raska and Prizren, close to the monastery of Crna Reka, actually next to the relics of St Peter of Korish, a witness of God's love and an antipode to any kind of violence. On this poignant and unpleasant event the Holy Synod of Bishops informed the public with the communiqué of May, 23 in which condemned brutal methods of the treatment of those afflicted with the illness of drug addiction, and called on His Grace Bishop Artemije to dismiss illegal stationary near Crna Reka and to subject wrongdoers of this hideous acts to canonical responsibility, and also called on competent civil authorities to investigate this case and take measures within their competence, while to the victims of this violence and to all those who have been affected in any way by it , the Holy Synod expressed its most sincere sorrow.

COMMUNIQUE From the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church Held in Belgrade May 14-22,2009

With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Pavle and under the presidencyof His Eminence Metropolitan Amphilohije of Montenegro and the Coastlands, who, in accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church is serving as substitute to the ailing Patriarch, the regular Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church was held at the Patriarchate in Belgrade from May 14 through 22, 2009. Participating in the work of the Assembly were all the diocesan hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church, including His Beatitude Archbishop of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skoplje Jovan with the hierarchs of the Autonomous Archdiocese of Ochrid.

Conscious of the Church's responsibility for the life and salvation of people and of the great spiritual challenges of our day, the Holy Assembly of Bishops dedicated itself to solving the vital questions of the Serbian Orthodox Church.