Holy Synod Statement

Communique regarding the pogrom in Kosovo and Metohija on March 17, 2004 and 10-years of the NATO bombing

This March 17 is five years since the pogrom committed upon the Serbian orthodox people and the orthodox sanctuaries in Kosovo and Metohija. This pogrom of the Albanian terrorists drove out new more than four thousand Serbs from their ages-long hearts, destroyed hundreds of homes, demolished new over thirty churches, and because of it also new innocent victims were fallen. All this happened in thepresence of international civilian and military forces, the UNMIK and the KFOR. Until today no one has been accused for this violence and public crime. And all that is just a continuation of the NATO bombing and the unequalled pogrom, violence, murders and destruction of hundreds of sanctuaries in 1999 in Kosovo and Metohija.

Explanation of basic positions of traditional Churches and religious communities on anti-discrimination Bill

An  essence  of an initiative of the traditional Churches and religious communities is that the anti-discrimination Bill adjusts to the standards of the acts of the Council of Europe, the European Union and developed democracies. 

Traditional Churches and religious communities again, welcome the willingness of the Government to perfect the anti-discrimination Bill , which is not simple under the pressure of libels and disinformation about the essence of the problem.

We support every effort to restrain discrimination, so we support and help bringing the proper act as soon as possible.

Members of Holy Synod of Bishops of the SOC meet with Minister Jeremic

Minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Serbia Vuk Jeremic met today with the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church before meetings which he is going to have at the headquarters of the UNESCO, as well as at other international forums, and which have as agoal to remind of five years of the March pogrom in Kosovo and Metohia (March 17, 2004) during which was destroyed 35 churches and monasteries.

Protest of the SOC regarding the action of creating electronic database of cultural heritage in Kosovo and Metohija

Letter of the Holy Synod of Bishops regarding the action of creating electronic database regarding cultural treasures of Kosovo and Metohija

Regarding the action of creating electronic data of cultural heritage in Kosovo and Metohija by “the ministry of culture of Kosovo”, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church has sent a protest letter to the chief of the UNMIK Lamberto Zannieri :

Serbian Orthodox Church is concerned about the suggestion of the new Statute of the AP of Vojvodina

The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church,regarding the suggestion of the new Statute of AP of Vojvodina, addressed to Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic, the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, which letter we convey here in whole, expressing serious concern for the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the Republic of Serbia.

For the same reason, the letter was also sent to the President of the Republic of Serbia and the Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Serbia.

Greeting of the SOC to the newly elected Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia