Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
October 5, 2005

ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL IN TUZLA DESECRATED

The night of October 2-3, 2005 unknown persons broke into the Orthodox cathedral dedicated to the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos in Tuzla. The holiest part of the church, the altar or sanctuary, was desecrated and physically damaged.

The very next night, October 3-4, 2005 unknown persons also broke into the parish homes of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Tuzla. Great material damage was done here as well. The glass on the windows was broken and the doors were destroyed. Police conducted an on the scene investigation.

The priests are appealing to the local authorities and police to do everything possible to protect and ensure the safety of their families and the property of the Serbian Orthodox Church. These unfortunate incidents are endangering the already difficult lives and survival of Serbs on the territory of the canton of Tuzla.

There is not one Orthodox church or cemetery left that has not been desecrated in the past five years. With only one exception, the perpetrators have not been found or brought to justice.

Readers can find more on the history of the Orthodox cathedral in Tuzla at www.spctuzla.org (in Serbian only).

METROPOLITAN SAWA OF WARSAW AND ALL-POLAND VISITS RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

A delegation of the Polish Orthodox Church headed by His Beatitude Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland is visiting His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia from October 3-6, 2005. The heads of the two Churches have already met several times.

In meetings between delegations of the two Churches, Metropolitan Sawa said that he supports the position of the Russian Orthodox Church with respect to intensified Uniate activity in the Ukraine, expressing bitterness upon the transfer of the seat of the Uniate bishop from Lvov to Kiev. His Beatitude expressed his regret following the schism in the Ukraine and his support for the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Other topics discussed included social problems confronting the Orthodox world and the educational system in Poland and Russia.

On Tuesday, October 4, 2005 in Moscow Patriarch Alexy and Metropolitan Sawa opened an exhibit on Orthodoxy in Poland: History and Modernity.

Source: www. patriarhia.ru and www.mospat.ru

VATICAN ASSEMBLY CONFIRMS ORTHODOX TRADITIONAL VALUES

His Grace Bishop Yegorevsky Mark, deputy head of external relations for the Moscow Patriarch, who is leading a Russian Orthodox Church delegation to the Vatican, said decisions made by Catholic leaders over liturgical issues would ultimately result in a return to the Orthodox Church’s traditional values.

"The aim of the Catholic Church to adapt to the modern world, to make Christianity more understandable and 'easy' for the world has had serious negative consequences," said Bishop Mark. This situation has also caused a reverse reactionary process, geared towards returning to the same traditions the Orthodox Church has faithfully observed.

More than 250 hierarchs and theologians are attending the general assembly, which opened Monday, October 3, 2005. The assembly, scheduled to run for three weeks, is focusing on the theme "the Eucharist, source and summit of the life and mission of the Church".

РИА Новости

[Serbian Translation Services]