Statements

Press statement

His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej has been hospitalized for medical treatment and clinical monitoring in “Karaburma” Military Medical Center after he tested positive for SARS CoV2 on nasopharyngeal swab. The medical condition of His Holiness Irinej during hospitalization has been well, stable and fully controlled.

Temporary fever was registered a couple of days ago, after which His Holiness has been afebrile and without any major complaints. A team of medical experts jointly decided on the medical treatment of the Serbian Patriarch, which has been conducted pursuant to the treatment protocol for COVID 19, as well as on the taken measures of treatment of his comorbid chronic diseases.

On behalf of the team of medical experts
Colonel Ivo Udovičić, Assistant Professor
Hospital Commander in Chief

Joint statement of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Serbia

Joint statement of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Serbia

Last night His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch was admitted to the Military COVID Hospital “Karaburma”, as he tested positive for SARS CoV2 virus during the regular test procedure. Patriarch Irinej is generally feeling well, asymptomatic and without fever. He was admitted to the hospital for medical supervision and control, and a team of doctors of various specialties will take care of his health condition.

Statement of the Serbian Patriarch Irinej

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch has said today that the only agreement that the Serbian Orthodox Church accepts is the one in which Kosovo is part of Serbia.

"That is absolutely the position of the Church, and nothing has changed there. We will still see in which direction the negotiations between the Serbian and Albanian sides are going, we are still getting to know the matter, "said Patriarch Irinej, commenting on the negotiations that took place between Belgrade and Pristina in the previous days.

Appeal to Turkey

Appeal to Turkey

There is hardly anyone in civilised world not knowing of Hagia Sophia, a magnificent and unique church, at a time the most important church of the entire Christian world, both in the East and in the West. It is also generally known that Hagia Sophia was the Christian church for more than nine centuries and the mosque for more than five centuries. Due to its architecture and fresco painting it is one of the most important cultural monuments and monuments of mankind’s spiritual heritage, protected by UNESCO. If an unknown Muslim poet could write on the Church of the Mother of God of Ljeviša in Prizren (Serbia) that pupil of his eye is the nest to her beauty, whose eye and what kind of sophisticated artistic feeling could express the unparalleled beauty of Hagia Sophia?

Press release of the Holy Synod of Bishops

The Holy Synod of Bishops, at their session held on June 25, 2020, strongly  condemned the continued persecution of the Church by the Montenegrin authorities, manifested by the latest summoning of His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral to the Security Administrative Centre in Podgorica for questioning, where he had been detained for six hours, as well as by arresting a number of priests and faithful people, thereat constantly threatening by deportation of those priests who are not Montenegrin citizens.

The Church in Montenegro and its bishops, clergy and monks, along with the faithful have been defending their shrines and completely justifiably demanding the necessary amendments to the disputed Law on Freedom of Religion, avoiding any politicization of the issue.

Press release of the Holy Synod of Bishops

The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church strongly condemns the latest persecution of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro and last night's arrest of His Grace Bishop Joanikije of Budimlye-Niksic and seven priests by the Montenegrin authorities, that  under the false pretext of fighting the coronavirus, have been using the opportunity to confront the Serbian Orthodox Church and her faithful people.

The Holy Synod of Bishops calls upon the authorities in Montenegro to stop persecuting the Church and to finally start behaving in accordance with the norms of civilization, according to which free confession of faith is one of the most important rights of every individual.

At the same time, the Holy Synod of Bishops expresses great concern over the aggravation of the situation in Montenegro and hopes that the Serbian people, as before, will act peacefully and will not respond to provocations by the then authorities that obviously want a conflict so as to accuse the Orthodox Church and her believers.

It is clear to anyone who is reasonable and well-meaning that sobriety and prudence should be preserved in these moments, and above all we should pray to God that peace prevails in Montenegro and that the innocent Bishop Joanikije and his priests be released from custody immediately.

The Holy Synod of Bishops
of the Serbian Orthodox Church