Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
Avgust 3, 2005

THE HOLY SYNOD OF BISHOPS OF
THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
August 3, 2005
In Belgrade

COMMUNIQUE REGARDING
THE LATEST EVENTS IN MACEDONIA AND MONTENEGRO

The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church held an extraordinary meeting today, August 3, 2005 regarding the problems imposed upon it. The meeting was chaired by His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle.

The Holy Synod was grateful to learn from His Holiness that he had sent a personal appeal to the most responsible individuals and institutions in the world to seek to free the innocently sentenced and imprisoned Archbishop of Ochrid and Metropolitan of Skoplje, His Beatitude Kyr Jovan.

The Holy Synod of Bishops joins the appeals of its Chairman and, on its part, once again calls on all Orthodox faithful, all Christians, all believers and all those who have a sense of right and justice in this world to direct an appeal to the Government in Skoplje demanding the release of Archbishop Jovan, the head of the local Orthodox church, the Archdiocese of Ochrid.

The Holy Synod of Bishops, by the same token, reminds the governments of the countries that are signatories of international conventions for the protection of human and religious rights, as well as organizations concerned with the protection of human rights, that relevant conventions (the European Convention on the Protection of Human Rights and Basic Freedoms, the International Pact on Civil and Political Freedoms, the United Nations Declaration on the Abolishment of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion and Confession, etc.) give then every right to react and to direct a protest t the Macedonian Government for violation of human rights; and furthermore, bind them to initiate a complaint against violators before the European Court for Human Rights, and to undertake other measures in accordance with the relevant documents and international law.

The Holy Synod of Bishops directs its prayers to Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is the Truth and the Source of all justice to give strength to His Beatitude Archbishop Jovan through his prayers to Sts. Kliment and Naum of Ochrid, St. Sava and all the Holy Saints that he may endure the trials that have befallen him.

The Holy Synod of Bishops also much attention and concern to the campaign being conducted against the Orthodox Church in Montenegro, using the placement of the church of the Holy Trinity on Mt. Rumija as a new excuse.

With regard to this, the Holy Synod of Bishop is of the opinion that the Montenegrin government is taking advantage of the building of the church of the Holy Trinity to benefit its personal and political interests and in order to wage a senseless political campaign completely foreign to the essence and existence of the Church of God, whose obvious consequence is the creation of divisions. The church of the Holy Trinity is the memorial shrine of many generations of true and sincere faithful (Orthodox, Catholics and Muslims) and, as such, is the guarantee and prayerful protection of their common life and brotherly love.

For these reasons, the Holy Synod of Bishops gives its full support to His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral and to the faithful of these three religions who have lived to see the fulfillment of the covenant to have a place on the top of Mt. Rumija, a place undefiled by sinning hands, to pray to God for love among neighbors and the salvation of our souls.

The members of the Holy Synod of Bishops direct their prayers to (St. Sava) the Founder of the Church to open the hearts of those who wish to falsely portray the church dedicated to the Holy Trinity as a place of hatred and division so that they may give up their intention to destroy it which is harmful, first of all, to them and their followers.

BOMB PLANTED IN FRONT OF SERBIAN HOUSE IN CERNICA

According to the testimony of Serbian Orthodox priest Dragan Kojic from Kosovska Vitina, on Friday night an unknown person planted an explosive shell in the front yard of the house belonging to a Serb man, Milivoje Nisic, in the village of Cernica near Gnjilane. A hand grenade that was supposed to serve as a detonator was taped to the explosive device with electrical tape. Fortunately, the device failed to explode.

Nisic's wife, Jasmina, noticed the bomb early Saturday morning and immediately informed KFOR and requested that soldiers come and deactivate the explosive device. However, instead of KFOR, after several hours members of the Kosovo Protection Corps* appeared on the scene and dismantled the bomb.

There were four children in the Nisic house the night that this explosive device was planted. This news has also been broadcast by the Serbian radio station in the village of Pasjane.

This latest incident in Cernica has brought more unrest among the Serbian residents of Cernica, who have been targeted in the past by several attacks by extremists.

Source: Information Service of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren

BISHOP JOANIKIJE CONSECRATES CHURCH IN SEKULAR

His Grace Bishop Joanikije of Budimlje and Niksic served Holy Hierarchal Liturgy yesterday and consecrated the newly built church of St. John the Baptist in Sekular, construction of which began 130 years ago.

Holy Liturgy was preceded by a group baptism.

Bishop Joanikije presented archierchal gramata to those most deserving for the building of the church.

After the religious service a Church and People’s Assembly took place with a rich gusle program and a festive banquet for all the faithful in attendance.

Source: Svetigora, B.C./S.K.

ST ELIJAH’S DAY CELEBRATED IN BAR

The feast of the Holy Prophet Elijah was prayerfully celebrated in the Municipality of Bar. Holy Liturgy on the occasion of St. Elijah’s Day were served today in Mrkojevici, at Volujica and in Stari Bar.

The church of St. Elijah in Velje Selo is unique in that it was restored with donations from natives of Mrkojevici living abroad, primarily of Muslim faith, and that the islamicized brothers of the Dapcevic family have a covenant to serve participants during prayers on St. Elijah’s Day with water.

Source: Svetigora Press

TALKS BETWEEN MOSCOW PATRIARCHATE AND ROCOR CONTINUE

On July 26, 2005, talks between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia continued in Moscow.

The Dialogue Commission, which is comprised of representatives of both Churches and which was established on the basis of an agreement reached in December 2003 has made several proposals relating to the resolution of remaining issues during its previous four meetings.

Source: Sedmica.ru

[Serbian Translation Services]