Holy Synod Statement

Regarding aspirations of the temporary institutions of Kosovo and Metohija that the self-proclaimed „State of Kosovo“ becomes a member of UNESCO

LETTER OF THE HOLY SYNOD OF BISHOPS
OF THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
TO MRS. IRINA BOKOVA
Director-General of UNESCO

HOLY SYNOD OF BISHOPS
SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
No 1047
14 September 2015
Belgrade

Director-General of UNESCO,
Mrs. Irina Bokova
Paris

Dear Madame,

On the occasion of recent self-proclaimed Government of Kosovo bid for UNESCO membership we would wish to express our profound concern on behalf of the Serbian Orthodox Church. We are convinced that an eventual acceptance of this request would have far-reaching consequences for the Christian cultural heritage itself as well as the perspective of common life of Serbs, Albanians and others in Kosovo and Metohija in the future.

Press Release of the Holy Synod of Bishops

The Holy Synod of Bishops, in reviewing the report and conclusions of the formed Commission (chaired by His Grace Bishop Teodosije of Ras-Prizren and members: His Grace Bishop Maxim of Western America, Protopresbyter-stavrophor Dr. Velibor Dzomic (co-ordinator of the Legal committee of the Diocese of Montenego and the Coastlands), Protopresbyter-stavrophor Djuro Krosnjar (priest at St. Vasilije of Ostrog Church in Lake Forest, IL; Diocese of New Gracanica and Midwestern America) and Veroslav Vjurdjevic (financial secretary from Hamilton, Diocese of Canada) in compliance with the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church, in reviewing the material-financial dealings in the Diocese of Canada and a general overview of the life of the Diocese and the pastoral work of His Grace Bishop Georgije of Canada, related to many charges brought against him by the clergy and people, the Holy Synod rendered a decision (on April 20, 2015) in which Bishop of Canada Georgije with that date is temporarily released of his duties of administering the Diocese of Canada until completion of the canonical proceedings, or until the forthcoming meeting of the Holy Assembly of Bishops.

At the same time, in accordance with the articles of the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church the Holy Synod of Bishops requested that His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia serve as administrator of the Diocese of Canada until the Holy Assembly of Bishops renders a final decision, whereby assiting His Holiness would be His Grace Bishop Teodosije (member of the Holy Synod) and His Grace Bishop Maxim.

From the Office of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church

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.

Communiqué

The Holy Synod of Bishops at its session on 22 April 2013 decided to accept the resignation of Bishop Vasilije of Zvornik-Tuzla to the service of an active Diocesan bishop, submitted due to health reasons on 6 November 2012, and to release him from further management of the Diocese of Zvornik-Tuzla. With this, the decision of the Holy Synod of Bishops from 6 November 2012 is changed, because then his resignation was provisionally accepted but he was asked to remain on duty until the regular session of the Holy Assembly of Bishops in May 2013, in order to finish ongoing projects. Bishop Jefrem of Banjaluka is appointed an administrator of the Diocese of Zvornik-Tuzla.

From the Office of the Holy Synod

Submitted by: Bishop Irinej of Backa

Communiqué of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church

Addressing the state of Serbia and the Serbian people regarding the signing of the agreement in Brussels.

Text of an agreement was signed in Brussels "on principles which regulate normalization of relations "between "Belgrade" and "Pristina", which is, of course, an euphemism in place of "Serbia and Kosovo", or between the Prime Minister of Serbia and "the Prime Minister of Kosovo," i.e.  an individual from the wanted list issued by Serbia.  Undeniable is impression that it represents a complete withdrawal of Serbia's institutions from the territory of its southern province and setting up limited autonomy of the Serbian community in the area to the north of the Ibar Bridge in Kosovska Mitrovica within Taci's establishment, therefore, an indirect and silent but still practical recognition of the government system in Kosovo and Metohija which is independent of Serbia's government structures. The situation is further aggravated by the fact that the Serbian government agreed to an uninterrupted “European integration” process for Taci's Kosovo (without mentioning Metohija, which sounds too Orthodox and Serbian,  and there is no mention of Serbia in this context),  and there is no doubt that after such a prohibitive price for the famous “date on the start of accession talks”, and the talks with an unknown number of new conditions and uncertain outcome, the price of EU accession itself would probably be embodied in the formal recognition of “an independent Kosovo” by Serbia and its obligation not to interrupt  “Kosovo” in getting the UN membership.