Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
September 29, 2005

FAST FOR THE SALVATION OF ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS IN MACEDONIA

A fast has been declared during the course of this week in the Orthodox Archdiocese of Ochrid for the salvation of Orthodox Christians in Macedonia.

Due to the extraordinary situation of the Orthodox Archdiocese of Ochrid and its head, the unjustly imprisoned Archbishop Jovan, and in accordance with the words of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, that “This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting” (Mat 17:21), a one week-long fast has been introduced upon the proposal of the acting chair of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Archdiocese of Ochrid, His Grace Bishop Joakim of Polog and Kumanovo, for all clergy, monks and nuns, and the faithful. The fast is in effect until October 2, 2005.

Fasting and prayer is one of the means by which the Church has confronted its trials for the past two millennia. Special fasts are introduced as a strong weapon in the fight against evil.

Acting chairman of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the
Orthodox Archdiocese of Ochrid
+ Joakim, Bishop of Polog and Kumanovo

[Serbian Translation Services]