Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
January 3, 2002

COMMUNIQUE OF THE DIOCESE OF THE CENTRAL EUROPE

In the eve of the most joyous Christian feast, when we pray for peace and good will among the peoples (Luke 2:24), being the hierarch in charge of the Diocese of Central Europe, We are still facing the situation that the decision made on November 28 and 29, 2001, forbidding Us and the clergymen of the Diocese of Central Europe We are in charge of to enter the official church premisses and the church for services, is still in force. Furthermore, the irregular situation in the parish of Zurich is getting more and more complicated. As a sign of Our good will and an expression of concern for the soul of every spiritual child of our Holy Church We have decided the following:

• The priest Simeun Prodanovic, clergyman of the Diocese of Britain and Scandinavia, is to be allowed to serve during Christmas feasts on the territory of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Zurich; simultaneously, We would like to declare that not a single Serbian Orthodox priest in Switzerland as well as no clergymen of the Diocese of Central Europe should welcome the feast of peace and good will being subject to forbiddance or suspension.
• We have also decided to suggest, at the next session of the Diocese Church Court, that the verdict on the expulsion of Dr. Jovan Antic from the Church community should be pronounced null and void, for the sake of peace.
• In order to avoid new misunderstandings, We intend to stop all the activities regarding the legal position of parishes of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Switzerland, until generally acceptable solutions have been found as a result of agreement and cooperation between Us, as the authorised diocesan, and the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the authorised state bodies and services of Switzerland, the country in which many of our faithful found their second Fatherland and in which everyone, without any exception, must observe law and order.
• We state that We are willing and ready to enter an unconditional dialogue with Patronal Committee of the State Churches of Switzerland regarding the organisation of life and work of the parishes of the Serbian Orthodox Church of the Diocese of Central Europe in Switzerland.
• With the aim to find a solution as to the establishing of church law and order, in conformity with the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church and laws of the country, and based on Our agreement (E. Br. 1181/01, dated December 27, 2001) the Delegation of the Holy Synod of Bishops comprising Their Graces Irinej, Bishop of Backa and Justin, Bishop of Timok (as determined by the Decision Sin. Br. 3112, dated December 27, 2001) is going to visit the Diocese of Central Europe so as to consider thoroughly the latest situation in Zurich and Switzerland, the situation concerning the Serbian Orthodox Church.
• Finally, all of the above said - as a sign of good will - in pre-festive mood - should be broadcast in the media of Switzerland till January 3, at latest.

Sending Our greetings to the honourable clergymen, members of the parish managements and all the faithful of the Diocese of Central Europe, and praying to the Divine Infant of Bethlehem to celebrate the feast of the Nativity of Christ the Saviour as the feast of peace, love, forgiving and reconciliation, with one mouth and one hearth, singing the joyous Angelic hymn "Glory to Lord in the highest, and on earth peace among men", greeting each other with the traditional Serbian Christmas greeting

PEACE FROM GOD - CHRIST IS BORN

INDEED HE IS BORN!

With God's blessing

BISHOP OF CENTRAL EUROPE
CONSTANTINE (in his own hand)