Statements

Public Statement Issued by the Holy Synod of Bishops about the violence applied against Drug Addicts at the Crna Reka Monastery

With shock and sorrow the Holy Synod of Bishops has received news about the brutal violence which was applied against those afflicted with the illness of drug addiction at the Crna Reka Monastery of the Raska-Prizren Diocese. The pictures presented and the open recognition of a cleric of the Raska-Prizren Diocese are unmistakable evidence of a violence which is totally foreign to the spirit of the Gospel and mission of the Church, and which is absolutely unacceptable.

Therefore, the Holy Synod of Bishops calls upon His Grace Bishop Artemije to disband immediately and without delay the illegal clinic for the treatment of the illness of addiction, and to undertake ecclesiastical court proceedings against his clerics who participated in the violence.

Communique of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the SPC on Tuesday, May 21, 2009

The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, during its regular session on 21 May 2009, based on a recommendation of the Episcopal Council of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America, relative to the restructuring of the existing Dioceses in North and South America, rendered the following decision confirming the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America, according to which the Dioceses of our Church on that territory will be restructured:

One more in series of untruths

In the Skopje newspaper Vecher on May 19 was published an article of a journalist Marjan Nikolovski titled " The SOC should sit and negotiate with the MOC". In this text it is being stated that a visit of His Eminence Bishop Dr Marko of Berlin (the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia) and Reverend protopresbyter Nikolai Balashov , the Secretary of Inter-Orthodox Relations of the MP DECR to hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church on May 14 in Belgrade had as a goal to convey a message of His Holiness Patriarch Kyrill of Moscow and All Russia that the Serbian Orthodox Church should not elect a new head and "that in Belgrade tell them to bring a decision to begin talks with the Macedonian Orthodox Church".

None of these statements are truth. During talks among the members of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church there was no single word on the themes that this journalist mentioned. Furthermore, it is impossible that one autocephaly Church brings any kind of requests or orders to other autocephaly Church. All talks between the Russian and the Serbian Church lead only to spirit of brotherly love and full mutual trust. The attempt of the Skopje journalist that the Moscow Patriarchate is presented to public as a "lawyer" of schismatic Church circles is in contradiction with the facts.

However, I agree with the position of Mr. Nikolovski that a dialogue presents a way for resolving all disputes, as well as the church related dispute in Macedonia.

Bishop Jovan (Puric): The Mission of the Church

The Apostle Paul says:
- Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do. (Gal. 2:10)
- Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Your browser may not support display of this image.Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. Your browser may not support display of this image.And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem. Your browser may not support display of this image.And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me. Your browser may not support display of this image.(1 Cor. 16:1-4)

Special communiqué of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the SOC, Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Regarding the news from Diocese of Rashka and Prizren that its Bishop, His Grace Dr Artemije , " does not give a blessing" for a visit of the US Vice President Joseph Biden to the Monastery of Visoki Dechani, the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church informs the public that it annuls this decision of Bishop Artemije and expresses regrets because of it. It is in contradiction with traditional Christian principles of hospitality, deeply rooted in the Serbian people, and especially in our monasteries.

The visit of the US Vice President is legitimate visit to states of this region, and among them, to Serbia; and the Assembly considers, no matter what are Biden personal or American general positions on a status of Kosovo and Metohija, that the decision of Mr. Biden to visit our greatest sanctuary in our south province, Monastery of Dechani, represents a gesture of good will and a clear message to those who would continue to destroy or convert Serbian churches and monasteries in Kosovo and Metohija.

Bishop Irinej of Bachka
Spokesman of the Holy Assembly of Bishops
of the Serbian Orthodox Church

Communique of the Holy Assembly of Bishops on Tuesday, May 19, 2009

During sessions on May 18 and 19, the Holy Assembly of Bishops learned about a condition and problems of dioceses of the Serbian Orthodox Church by reports of bishops.

During the session on May 19, Bishop Lavrentije of Shabac informed the Assembly about his wish and decision, due to health and other personal reasons, to retire from an active service and to continue to live as a retired Bishop, but he then accepted a position and a petition of the Assembly , due to current spiritual needs of the Church at this moment, to postpone (‘'to froze'')  until further notice his resignation from the active service of diocesan hierarch and to continue to govern Diocese of Shabac.

During the same session the Assembly had a  business meeting with Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Mr. Goran Bogdanovic and counselors of the President of Serbia Mladjan Djordjevic and Damjan Krnjcevic.

The Patriarchate, May 19, 2009

Bishop Irinej of Bachka
Spokesman of the Holy Assembly of Bishops