Statements

Encyclical of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church

ENCYCLICAL OF THE HOLY AND GREAT COUNCIL OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH
Crete 2016

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

With a hymn of thanksgiving, we praise and worship God in Trinity, who has enabled us to gather together during the days of the feast of Pentecost here on the island of Crete, which has been sanctified by St. Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, and his disciple Titus, his “true son in the common faith” (Tit 1.4), and, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to conclude the sessions of this Holy and Great Council of our Orthodox Church – convened by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, by the common will of Their Beatitudes the Primates of the most holy Orthodox Churches – for the glory of His most holy Name and for the great blessing of His people and of the whole world, confessing with the divine Paul: “Let people then regard us thus: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Cor 4.1).

The Serbian Patriarch sends condolences concerning the tragic events in Istanbul

On the occasion of the tragic events in Istanbul, during which dozens of innocent victims suffered, His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, sent sincere condolences to His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Turkey.

Telegram of condolences to His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew:

Your All-Holiness,

On the occasion of the tragedy at the airport in Istanbul, that took many lives, please accept Our sincere condolences.

Serbian Patriarch Irinej

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Communiqué of the Eastern American Diocese - Fire at Saint Sava in NYC

To all Diocesan Clergy, Church-School Congregation Boards and Faithful
Dear Very Reverend and Reverend Clergy and our dear Serbian Orthodox faithful,

Christ is Risen!

As you certainly all know, our entire Diocese, and indeed our entire Serbian Orthodox Church, suffered a terrible and tragic loss on the very day of the Holy Pascha of our Lord with the destruction of our cathedral church of St. Sava in New York City. While the church building is a total loss, we rejoice and thank God that there were no serious injuries or loss of life. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the New York Fire Department, and we await their findings.

Nonetheless, our Serbian Orthodox brothers and sisters in the New York area have lost their spiritual home, the heart of their religious and national life. Their loss is personal for them, deeply emotional and truly tragic. Yet, even as the embers of the temple still smoldered, the community expressed its determination to continue its church life there. The building is gone, but the living church remains, and its members need our prayers and our support, both spiritual and financial.

Press Release from St. Sava Cathedral in New York

The Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava in New York City, an architectural treasure listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a New York City landmark, was tragically destroyed by a fire on Sunday, May 1, 2016, on Easter, the holiest day for Eastern Orthodox Christians.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Designed by noted architect Richard Upjohn and begun in 1842, the church was consecrated in 1855 as Trinity Chapel until it was sold to the Serbian community in 1943. Celebrated author Edith Wharton was married in this church, and Nikola Tesla, world-renowned scientist and inventor, was memorialized with a bronze bust, which miraculously sustained no damage. To date, the Orthodox community has spent over $4.5 million dollars to restore and improve the complex, which had continued to serve the needs of its parishioners and community through war and peace, tragedy and joy.

His Holiness Irinej greets Queen Eliyabeth II on Her Birthday

Her Majesty ELIZABETH II
The Queen of the United Kingdom,
Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, and
Head of the Commonwealth
Buckingham Palace
London SW1A 1AA

You have placed crowns of precious stones upon their heads.
They asked life of you and you gave it to them—long life forever and evermore!
(Ps. 21:3-4)

Your Majesty,

In this day in which we commemorate the 90th year of Your Majesty's birth, kindly allow Us to express, on Our own behalf and on behalf of Our hierarchs, clergy, monastics and faithful, living throughout Your domain Our earnest offering of congratulations and sincere appreciation to the Lord for Your long life, and for Your most gracious Reign.

As the Spiritual Leader of Serbian Orthodox Christians, living in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, as well as throughout the Commonwealth, We rejoice knowing that Your Majesty is both their Sovereign and Godmother to His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander II of Serbia.

We pray The Lord of Lords and The King of Kings, Christ our God, to bless Your Majesty with many more years of health and prosperity, peace and joy!

Long may You reign!
With Our most profound respect,

IRINEJ
Archbishop of Pech
Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovci and
Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church

Condolences of the Serbian Patriarch Irinej to The King of the Belgians

His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej expressed to His Majesty King Philippe, The King of the Belgians, his condolences over a series of terrorist attacks committed in Bruxelles on March 22, 2016.

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To His Majesty
PHILIPPE of Belgium
Bruxelles – Laeken

Your Majesty,

We have been deeply disturbed by the news on terrorist attacks in Bruxelles. In particular, we grieve over the fact that these attacks took away many human lives, and that hundreds of them have been injured.

These are difficult times for the people of Belgium, but also for the entire civilized world. It is with pain that the Serbian Orthodox people are looking to the victims that lose their lives in the increasingly frequent terrorist attacks.

On behalf of the fullness of the Serbian Orthodox Church as well as on Our own behalf, please accept sincere condolences with Our prayers to the Lord, the only Merciful One, to grant an eternal repose to the souls of all the killed and comfort to their families and relatives in their pain as well as a quick recovery to the wounded.

SERBIAN PATRIARCH
I r i n e j