Statements

Muslims accept the apology of Patriarch of Serbia

Regarding the statement of His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia in which he expresses regret and extend his apology for his reckless statement that hurted the feelings of many Muslims, Riyasah of Islamic Community of Serbia has published the following communiqué:

Only God does not sin. People make mistakes, and when they do it then they blaspheme against God. God is pleased, when a man repents and asks forgiveness. God is more pleased when one man forgives the another one, so You shall be forgiven, so as Almighty supports us not to resent each other and that our temptations of life and happiness share in peace and respect.

Statement of Patriarch Irinej of Serbia

On the occasion of my reckless incomplete statement about the psychological profile of the Muslims, published in the daily newspaper Blic on St. Sava's day, I state that indeed it can be interpreted in the way it was understood by those Muslim believers and religious leaders who felt hurt, although I neither had such an intention nor that unfortunate statement expresses my true attitude towards Islam, based on the absolute respect of identity, dignity and integrity of Muslims as individuals, the Islamic community as a whole, and Islam as a major world religion.

Patriarch of Serbia meets with President of Serbia

Serbian President Boris Tadic talked yesterday with His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia and pointed out that the Church had an important place in our society. President and Patriarch spoke about the position of the clergy and monks of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo and Metohia, as well as on the protection of the cultural heritage in the southern province of Serbia.

Communique of the Ohrid Archbishopric on return of Archbishop Jovan to Republic of Macedonia

His Beatitude Archbishop of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skopje kyr kyr Jovan, since the measure of his detention was abolished, after almost two years of absence, on January 25, in the late evening hours he returned to his homeland. Archbishop Jovan requested the abolition of detention during the judicial process against him, but since it was not allowed, His Beatitude has been forced for almost two years to live outside R. Macedonia.

Communique on the occasion of the upcoming Election Assembly

The upcoming Election Assembly of the Serbian Orthodox Church, scheduled for January 22, is one of the central themes of our media scene. The Holy Synod states with satisfaction that one part of media deals with that issue seriously and responsibly, but notices with deep regret that an approach of great deal of media reporters and commentators is sensationalist, biased and partial, so they often use disinformation and obscure gossip, usually from anonymous sources, neither respecting the spiritual authority of the Church nor its late head. Also they do not care for the feelings and the dignity of our people, expressed at the send-off and the funeral of Patriarch.

Nativity Encyclical 2009

The Serbian Orthodox Church
to her spiritual children
at Christmas, 2009

+AMPHILOHIJE

By the Grace of God
Orthodox Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Coastlands, Locum Tenens of the throne of the Serbian Patriarchs, with all the Hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church, to all the clergy, monastics, and all the sons and daughters of our Holy Church: grace, mercy and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, with the joyous Christmas greeting:

Peace from God! Christ is Born!

Again this year, our dear spiritual children, here we are before the cradle of the Divine Child Jesus Christ. The immense mystery beyond comprehension of the birth of God the Logos took place in a lowly cave in Bethlehem, which from that moment, once and for all time, became the center of the world – the center of God’s glory and a source of comfort to all those who have sought after God throughout human history.