Statements

Statement about the loss of the former President of Cyprus

His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, made statements about the loss of the former President of Cyprus, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos.

His Beatitude, having expressed his deep sadness, praised the virtues of the deceased former President as well as the efforts he made for the rights of Cypriot Hellenes. He said: "We are saddened at the loss of a great man from the martyred Island, a man with high patriotic fortitude, who from a young age up until the final moment of his life, fought for the common good, always beside Orthodoxy and the Missionary efforts of the Patriarchate of Alexandria.

Best wishes for the new Head of the Orthodox Church in America

His Beatitude Kyr JONAH
Archbishop of Washington and New York,
Metropolitan of All America and Canada
Route 25 A, Oyster Bay Cove,
SYOSSET, NY 11791
U S A

YOUR BEATITUDE,

Beloved Brother in Christ,

On the occasion of Your election as Head of the Orthodox Church in America, We, on behalf of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle, of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, of our pious people, as well as on Our own behalf, extend to You Our whole-hearted and brotherly best wishes for Your fruitful archpastoral ministry on the throne of the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, being sure that Your pastoral-ecclesial efforts will contribute not only to the spiritual and moral rebirth of the people of God that is entrusted to You directly by Divine providence, but also to the entire Orthodox Church of Christ.

We recommend Ourselves to Your holy payers and remain Your Brother in Christ and Concelebrant.

On Behalf of the Serbian Patriarch,
ARCHBISHOP OF CETINJE and
METROPOLITAN OF MONTENEGRO
A m f i l o h i j e

Communique (November 13, 2008)

On Thursday, November 13 2008, after the celebration of Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the Patriarchate chapel of Venerable Simeon the Myrrh-Gushing, His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral, Their Graces Bishops Kontantin of Central Europe and Joakim of Polog and Kumanovo visited His Holiness Patriarch Pavle of Serbia at the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade.

When His Holiness received the Holy Communion, the Bishops informed him about the work of the Holy Assembly of Bishops and the decision of the Assembly, concerning his plea to be allowed to retire from active service due to "physical disability", with full respect to causes from his plea requests him to remain the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

His Holiness accepted the decision of the Assembly peaceably and blessed its further work.

Message of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on the Day of the Protection of the Environment - September 1, 2008

Encyclical, September 1, 2008

Prot. No. 1091

+ B A R T H O L O M E W
BY THE MERCY OF GOD ARCHBISHOP
OF CONSTANTINOPLE, NEW ROME AND
ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH
TO THE PLENITUDE OF THE CHURCH
GRACE AND PEACE
FROM THE CREATOR OF THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE
OUR LORD, GOD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST

For creation was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who subjected it ... For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. (Rom. 8. 20,22)

Beloved Brothers and children in the Lord,

Once again, as the ecclesiastical year begins, we are called to reflect - with renewed spiritual intensity in Christ and especial sensitivity - on the state of our bountiful planet, and to offer particular prayers for the protection of the whole natural world.

What is of God, to God, What is of the King, to the King...

A Blessing for Honorable and Fair Elections

«« But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness…»(Matthew 6:33)... »(Мт. 6, 33)...

Bearing in mind that preelection silence is about to begin soon and that there have been some speculations in the public that the Church was supporting one or the other political option, we must point out some postulates on which not only the relationship between the Church and the state are laid, but also the very identity of the Church, which can’t be exploited or abused, not even on behalf of church institutions or dignitaries.