Statement of Holy Assembly of Bishops

Statement of the Holy Assembly of Bishops on Kosovo and Metohia

Statement of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church at the beginning of their regular May session on the current situation on Kosovo and Metohija.

From its historical seat, the monastery of the  Patriarchate of Pec, which with its faithful people has  passed  a crucifixion-resurrection path of suffering and renewal, thirty-seven years after a setting fire to a refectory of the Patriarchate of Pec, twenty-one years since the martyr's death of Hieromonk Stephan, spiritual father of this sacred convent, - the Holy Assembly of  Bishops,  presided over by His Holiness the Serbian Patriarch Irinej, following visitations to our holy shrines - Patriarchate of Pec, monasteries of  Decani and Zociste,  and after conversations with the competent diocesan  Bishop, diocesan  clergy, monastics and faithful people in Pec, Prizren and Velika Hoca, issues  the flowing statement concerning the current situation on Kosovo and Metohija.

Communique of the Holy Assembly of Bishops

The public communique of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church from their regular meeting held at the Patriarchate of Pec monastery and Belgrade May 14-24, 2017

The regular meeting of the Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church began at the Patriarchate of Pec monastery with the joint serving of the holy hierarchical Divine Liturgy and the invocation of the Holy Spirit and continued at the Serbian Patriarchate in Belgrade, under the presidency of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej. Participating in the Assembly were all diocesan hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church with the exception of Bishop Lukijan of Osijek and Baranja, who for health reasons was unable to attend.

Communique of the Holy Assembly of Bishops

Communique of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church held in Belgrade May 14-25, 2016

The regular meeting of the Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church began at the Patriarchate of Pec monastery with the joint serving of the holy hierarchical Divine Liturgy and the invocation of the Holy Spirit and continued in Prizren with the rite of consecration of the renovated Prizren Seminary. Afterward, all regular meetings, under the presidency of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej, were held in Belgrade. Participating in the Assembly were all diocesan hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church with the exception of Bishop Lavrentije of Sabac who, out of justifiable reasons, was not able to attend.

The most important theme of this year’s Assembly was preparation of the Serbian Orthodox Church to take part in the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church, to meet this June in Crete. Regarding this forthcoming pan Orthodox Council, the Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, adopted a document expressing their principle position on all major issues to be discussed and decided upon at the Great Council.

Communique of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church

The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church

Communique of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of
the Serbian Orthodox Church held in Belgrade May 14-29, 2015

The regular meeting of the Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church took place at the Serbian Patriarchate took place at the Serbian Patriarchate in Belgrade from May 14 – 29, 2015 under the presidency of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej. Participating in the Assembly were all diocesan hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church, with the exception of Metropolitan Nikolaj of Dabra Bosna. Also present at the Assembly for the first time since the 2011 meeting was His Beatitude Archbishop of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skoplje Jovan, released a few months prior from the Skoplje Idrizovo prison in large part through the efforts of His Holiness Russian Patriarch Kirill and the Russian Orthodox Church, in cooperation with the Serbian Orthodox Church to the measure possible.

Communique – 23 May 2015

The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church on today’s session brought its final decision in which His Grace Bishop Filaret of Canada was permanently released from administering the Diocese of Canada.

The Diocese of Milesheva is administered by Bishop Joanikije of Budimlje-Niksic

Communique – 20 May 2015

The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church on today’s session brought its final decision in which His Grace Bishop Georgije of Canada was permanently released from administering the Diocese of Canada.

The Diocese of Canada is temporarily administered by His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej.