Statements

Appeal to Turkey

Appeal to Turkey

There is hardly anyone in civilised world not knowing of Hagia Sophia, a magnificent and unique church, at a time the most important church of the entire Christian world, both in the East and in the West. It is also generally known that Hagia Sophia was the Christian church for more than nine centuries and the mosque for more than five centuries. Due to its architecture and fresco painting it is one of the most important cultural monuments and monuments of mankind’s spiritual heritage, protected by UNESCO. If an unknown Muslim poet could write on the Church of the Mother of God of Ljeviša in Prizren (Serbia) that pupil of his eye is the nest to her beauty, whose eye and what kind of sophisticated artistic feeling could express the unparalleled beauty of Hagia Sophia?

Serbian Patriarch Irinej had a telephone conversation with President Vucic

The President of the Republic of Serbia, Mr. Aleksandar Vucic and His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej have had a telephone conversation. The joint statement of the two cabinets has been given below:

The President of the Republic of Serbia, Mr. Aleksandar Vucic and His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej have expressed great concern over the detention of His Grace Joanikije, Bishop of Budimlije and Niksic, and priests of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro, hoping that our people will act peacefully and calmly in these moments when it would be unreasonable to get involved in any riots or conflicts.

Serbian Patriarch Irinej reminds that the culmination of the hostile attitude of the state authorities of Montenegro towards the Serbian Orthodox Church has begun with the adoption of the controversial Law on Freedom of Religion and flagrant ignoring of the requirements of the Serbian Orthodox Church for having equal position with all the other churches and religious communities and for enjoying the protection of rights that our Church has been having for centuries. The fact that the adopted law has made a great displeasure of our people at the end of last year and the beginning of this year, and that the Bishop and the priests have been arrested and detained now, is the very proof that the Serbian Orthodox Church is being persecuted by the Montenegrin state authorities.

President Vucic has given full support to the Serbian Patriarch Irinej and the bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro in their efforts to resolve all the problems they face through dialogue, peacefully, with full respect for the rights and freedoms of the Serbian Orthodox Church and expressed his hope that Bishop Joanikije and the arrested priests will be released in the shortest possible time.

Telephone conversation between the Serbian President and the Serbian Patriarch

The President of the Republic, Aleksandar Vucic, had a telephone conversation with His Holiness Irinej, the Patriarch of Serbia. After the conversation, the joint statement of the two cabinets was issued:

President Vucic pointed out that he understood the need of the people and the Church to celebrate the greatest Christian feast-day, the Resurrection of Christ, for which the Holy Synod, with paternal care for their faithful, asked the state authorities. However, due to the current epidemiological situation in Serbia and consequent observing of the measures and instructions prescribed by the professionals, it is impossible to abolish the ban on movement during the curfew.

“Maintain the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace” (Eph 4:3)

The Amman Fraternal Gathering of the Orthodox Primates and Delegates

Following the initiative for dialogue and reconciliation announced by the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III in November 2019, the Amman Fraternal Familial Gathering was hosted today in the capital of Jordan, with attendance of Primates and Delegations from various Orthodox churches. The purpose of the gathering was to renew dialogue and promote unity between brothers within the Orthodox Communion.

Communique

Press Release

While preparing to celebrate the radiant Feast of the Nativity of Christ, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, under presidency of His Holiness the Serbia Patriarch Irinej, held a session at the Patriarchal Court in Belgrade, on January 4, 2020, with participation of the hierarchs who have their jurisdiction in Montenegro: His Excellency Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro-Coastlands and Their Graces Bishops: Joanikije of Budimlje-Nikšić, Bishop Atanasije of Mileseva and Bishop Dimitrije of Zahum-Herzegovina. The session was attended by Their Graces Vicar Bishops Stefan of Remesiana and Metodije of Dioclaea as well.

Serbian Patriarch Irinej appeals for ending the terror over the Church and the people in Montenegro

Appeal of Serbian Patriarch Irinej for ending the terror
over the Church and the people in Montenegro

His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej calls on the Montenegrin state authorities, especially members of the Ministry of the Interior, to immediately end the brutal terror over the Serbian Orthodox Church, its clergy and its faithful people. Inhuman beatings of the Vicar Bishop Metodije of Dioclea, priests, and Serbian Orthodox believers, simply because they are Serbs and Orthodox believers, represent unprecedented acts in Europe since the fall of fascism and the end of Bolshevik terror.