Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
July 14, 2005

LIFE SOURCE CITIZENS ASSOCIATION DOES NOT HAVE THE BLESSING OF THE HOLY SYNOD OF BISHOPS

In the interest of truth, we wish to inform the public that according to the decision of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church the Life Source (Istocnik Zivota) Citizens Association does not have, and has never had, the blessing of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

SLOVAK DELEGATION VISITS BELGRADE PATRIARCHATE

On behalf of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle, His Grace Bishop Irinej of Backa, a member of the Holy Synod of Bishops, received a delegation from Slovakia on July 14, 2005, in the Belgrade Patriarchate.

Representatives of the delegation, headed by the embassy advisor for consular affairs, Mr. Zoran Vasiljevic, informed Bishop Irinej of the desire of our people (in Slovakia) to maintain ties with their homeland and Church. They discussed many issues related to the spiritual life of our people in Slovakia, with which our country has traditionally good relations, especially between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia.

The members of the delegation then visited the Serbian Orthodox Church Museum, where they had the opportunity to learn about the valuable artifacts there attesting to the history and culture of our people.

PATRONAL FEAST CELEBRATED IN THE PODVORYE OF THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH IN MOSCOW

The patronal feast of the church of the Podvorye of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Moscow was celebrated on the feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Alexey II of Moscow and All Russia, His Eminence Bishop Mark of Yegorievsk officiated at the inspired religious service in the church of the Podvorye with the concelebration of Archimandrite Antonio, the administrator of the Serbian Podvorye in Moscow, Archimandrite Ignatios, the administrator of the Podvorye of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Moscow, and Protopresbyters Vsevolad Chaplin and Nikolai Balashov.

Services were attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps and the Serbian diaspora in Moscow.

After Holy Liturgy and well wishes, Bishop Mark, with the blessing of Patriarch Alexey, presented Archimandrite Antonio with the Order of St. Sergei Radonesky of the Third Degree.

Sources: www.mospat.ru and www.serbskoe-podvorie.ru

PATRONAL FEAST CELEBRATED IN LICKO PETROVO SELO

Licko Petrovo Selo celebrated its patron saint’s day, the feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, in its renovated church. His Grace Bishop Gerasim of Gornji Karlovac served Holy Hierarchal Liturgy.

Welcoming the faithful in attendance, Bishop Gerasim expressed his support and empathy for their suffering and difficulties, saying that suffering is not alien to the Orthodox, and that through the centuries to this very day they have suffered for truth, justice and the path of truth shown to us by Christ’s example and later the example of all God’s chosen who perished for Christ. Licko Petrovo Selo itself has suffered and continues to suffer today with its residents. Bishop Gerasim noted that if we must suffer, at least let us not suffer as sinners but as lovers of justice, repentant in the Lord, accepting the Lord through the Holy Mystery of the Eucharist, and following the example of God’s chosen, enduring all difficulties that we encounter on the path of Christ, that we, too, may say that we are the clean vessels of the Holy Spirit and, as the Holy Apostle Paul said, that the Lord lives within us.

Source: Diocese of Gornji Karlovac

[Serbian Translation Services]