Statements

Holy Synod Of The Serbian Orthodox Church Sends Condolences To The Russian Orthodox Church

With the blessing and in the name of His Holiness PatriarchPavle of Serbia, His Eminence Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral onbehalf of The Holy Hierarchal Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church has sent atelegram of condolence to the Russian Orthodox Church upon the repose of theFirst Hierarch of the Russian Church, noting:

"With regard to thesudden and early death of His HolinessPatriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, we ask you, along with allhierarchs, priesthood, religious clergy and the faithful, to accept our sinceresympathies.

We pray to the Lord for repose of his generous soul, and to grantyou all comfortin your pain for the greathierarch of the Church of Jesus."

Public communique of the Holy Hierarchical Assembly of the Serbian Orthodox Church

Communique from the second regular session of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, held in Belgrade November 11-15, 2008.

With the blessings of His Holiness Patriarch Pavle of Serbia and under the presidency of His Eminence Metropolitan Amphilohije of Montenegro and the Coastlands who, in accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church took the place of His Holiness, who was absent for health reasons, the second regular Assembly of the Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church took place November 11 through 15, 2008 at the Patriarchate in Belgrade.

Best wishes for the new Head of the Orthodox Church in America

His Beatitude Kyr JONAH
Archbishop of Washington and New York,
Metropolitan of All America and Canada
Route 25 A, Oyster Bay Cove,
SYOSSET, NY 11791
U S A

YOUR BEATITUDE,

Beloved Brother in Christ,

On the occasion of Your election as Head of the Orthodox Church in America, We, on behalf of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle, of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, of our pious people, as well as on Our own behalf, extend to You Our whole-hearted and brotherly best wishes for Your fruitful archpastoral ministry on the throne of the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, being sure that Your pastoral-ecclesial efforts will contribute not only to the spiritual and moral rebirth of the people of God that is entrusted to You directly by Divine providence, but also to the entire Orthodox Church of Christ.

We recommend Ourselves to Your holy payers and remain Your Brother in Christ and Concelebrant.

On Behalf of the Serbian Patriarch,
ARCHBISHOP OF CETINJE and
METROPOLITAN OF MONTENEGRO
A m f i l o h i j e

Communique (November 13, 2008)

On Thursday, November 13 2008, after the celebration of Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the Patriarchate chapel of Venerable Simeon the Myrrh-Gushing, His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral, Their Graces Bishops Kontantin of Central Europe and Joakim of Polog and Kumanovo visited His Holiness Patriarch Pavle of Serbia at the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade.

When His Holiness received the Holy Communion, the Bishops informed him about the work of the Holy Assembly of Bishops and the decision of the Assembly, concerning his plea to be allowed to retire from active service due to "physical disability", with full respect to causes from his plea requests him to remain the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

His Holiness accepted the decision of the Assembly peaceably and blessed its further work.

Decision of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church about the withdrawal of the Serbian Patriarch

The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church informs the public about the request of the Serbian patriarch Pavle:

"The request of His Holiness Patriarch Pavle of the Serbian Orthodox Church on October 8, 2008, to be granted retirement from active service due to his physical disability, has been received to the knowledge.

At the same time, The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church ask His Holiness Patriarch to still remain the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church".

The Holy Assembly of Bishops continues its work after the agenda.

Tomorrow begins the formal sitting of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church

On Tuesday , November 11, 2008, after Holy Hierarchal Liturgy and the invocation of the Holy Spirit at the Cathedral Church in Belgrade begins formal sitting of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The Holy liturgy is beginning at 6.30.

All bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church from Homeland and abroad will attend this supreme hierarchic representation and church legislative authority in affairs of faith, service, church order, internal ordering of the Church and supreme judicial power in its competence.

At the end of its work, The Holy Assembly of Bishops will publish Communique.