Statement of Holy Assembly of Bishops

Bishop of Nis Irinej elected for a new Patriarch of Serbia

Today at the Election Assembly of bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church the new Patriarch of Serbia was elected.

In the early morning hours His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral , locum tenens of the Patriarchate throne, served the Holy Hierarchal liturgy at the Cathedral church. His Eminence served with the concelebration of Bishops: Lukijan of Osijek Polje and Baranja, Jovan of Shumadia, Irinej of Australia and New Zealand,  Vicar Bishop of Teodosije of Lipljan and Antonije of Moravica.

Text of the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church for North and South America established

The Holy Assembly of Bishops, at the session of May 21, 2009 under ABno. 79/ord. 148, brought this decision:

To finally approve the established text of the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church for the North and South America, which is to be effective on a day of bringing this decision, or May 21/8 2009.

With this decision of the Holy Assembly of Bishops the Transient regulations for management ceased to apply between the Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA and Canada and the Metropolitanate of New Gracanica.

The Decision of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church on redistribution of dioceses

The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, on its session on May 21, 2009, by the number ABno, 49/ord. 147, brought this decision:

Upon the clause 16 of the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and with the established suggestion of the Episcopal Council of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America and two members of the Holy Assembly of Bishops (His Grace Bishop Hrizostom of Zhicha and His Grace Bishop Irinej of Bachka), to execute the redistribution of existing dioceses of the Serbian Orthodox Church: Midwestern American, Eastern American, Western American and Canadian of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA and Canada; and Dioceses for America and Canada of the Metropolitanate of New Gracanica, with certain renaming of their titles and moving of their seats, in order to the canonic territory of the Serbian Orthodox Church on the territory of the North and South America now is consisting of:

COMMUNIQUE From the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church Held in Belgrade May 14-22,2009

With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Pavle and under the presidencyof His Eminence Metropolitan Amphilohije of Montenegro and the Coastlands, who, in accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church is serving as substitute to the ailing Patriarch, the regular Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church was held at the Patriarchate in Belgrade from May 14 through 22, 2009. Participating in the work of the Assembly were all the diocesan hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church, including His Beatitude Archbishop of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skoplje Jovan with the hierarchs of the Autonomous Archdiocese of Ochrid.

Conscious of the Church's responsibility for the life and salvation of people and of the great spiritual challenges of our day, the Holy Assembly of Bishops dedicated itself to solving the vital questions of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Communique of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the SPC on Tuesday, May 21, 2009

The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, during its regular session on 21 May 2009, based on a recommendation of the Episcopal Council of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America, relative to the restructuring of the existing Dioceses in North and South America, rendered the following decision confirming the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America, according to which the Dioceses of our Church on that territory will be restructured:

Special communiqué of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the SOC, Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Regarding the news from Diocese of Rashka and Prizren that its Bishop, His Grace Dr Artemije , " does not give a blessing" for a visit of the US Vice President Joseph Biden to the Monastery of Visoki Dechani, the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church informs the public that it annuls this decision of Bishop Artemije and expresses regrets because of it. It is in contradiction with traditional Christian principles of hospitality, deeply rooted in the Serbian people, and especially in our monasteries.

The visit of the US Vice President is legitimate visit to states of this region, and among them, to Serbia; and the Assembly considers, no matter what are Biden personal or American general positions on a status of Kosovo and Metohija, that the decision of Mr. Biden to visit our greatest sanctuary in our south province, Monastery of Dechani, represents a gesture of good will and a clear message to those who would continue to destroy or convert Serbian churches and monasteries in Kosovo and Metohija.

Bishop Irinej of Bachka
Spokesman of the Holy Assembly of Bishops
of the Serbian Orthodox Church