Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
March 8, 2006

AFTER 220 DAYS OF DETENTION IN SKOPLJE'S IDRIZOVO PRISON ARCHBISHOP JOVAN RELEASED
PATRIARCH ALEXEY II OF MOSCOW MEETS WITH DELEGATION OF THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

AFTER 220 DAYS OF DETENTION
IN SKOPLJE'S IDRIZOVO PRISON
ARCHBISHOP JOVAN RELEASED

His Beatitude the Archbishop of Ochrid and Metropolitan of Skoplje Jovan Vraniskovski, was released yesterday morning by the decision of the Macedonian Supreme Court after spending 220 days in the central prison of Idrizovo in Skoplje. "It is our hope that the release of Bishop Jovan will be [considered] a joyous event by all citizens of Macedonia regardless of their religious or national affiliation because it represents a step forward in repairing the picture of our homeland before the international community," the Orthodox Archdiocese of Ochrid emphasized in a written statement.

Immediately upon leaving prison Archbishop Jovan served Holy Hierarchal Liturgy, and in his homily upon that occasion he thanked God for giving him the strength to endure unjust persecution and a prison sentence. He expressed his thanks for the constant support of the bishops, clergy and faithful who have not abandoned their Orthodox faith despite the attack on their spiritual pastor by various enemies.

In August 2004 the Supreme Court of the Republic of Macedonia sentenced Archbishop Jovan to 18 months in prison. This sentence was confirmed in mid-2005 after the Serbian Orthodox Church's Holy Assembly of Bishops issued a Tomos [decree] of the autocephaly of the Archdiocese of Ochrid, and appointed Metropolitan Jovan Archbishop and Metropolitan. The Macedonian government claimed that these two events are unrelated, denying that the sentencing is related to decades of canonical dispute between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the schismatic dioceses organized into the so-called Macedonian Orthodox Church, which is canonically not recognized.

Archbishop Jovan went to Idrizovo Prison on July 26 of last year, and the sentence of 18 months was extended by a year for violating a suspended sentence for "self-will and violence" (because of the attempt to baptize the grandchild of his sister). His imprisonment provoked strong protests by the Serbian Orthodox Church, other local Orthodox churches, and the entire Christian world, and all significant European and global institutions were informed of this violation of human rights and freedoms in the Republic of Macedonia.

In September 2005 the Macedonian Supreme Court rejected two out of three counts in the indictment holding Archbishop Jovan accountable for "spreading national and religious hatred, divisions and intolerance". Subsequently the extension of his sentence by the suspended sentence was also withdrawn. Following an appeal for a reduction of his prison term, the Supreme Court recently reduced the sentence from 18 to eight months, the amount of time already spent by Archbishop Jovan in prison.

Source: Danas daily, Belgrade/J.T.

PATRIARCH ALEXEY II OF MOSCOW MEETS
WITH DELEGATION OF THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

On Thursday, March 2, 2006, His Beatitude Patriarch Alexey II of Moscow and All-Russia received a delegation of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the Patriarchal Residence at Cisti Pereulok in Moscow as part of the delegation's official visit to Russia. The delegation was comprised of His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral, His Grace Bishop Irinej of Backa and His Grace Bishop Joanikije of Budimlje and Niksic.

The delegation was accompanied by Archimandrite Antonije Pantelic, administrator of the Serbian Orthodox Church's Podvorye in Moscow during its meeting with the Russian Patriarch. Also present at the meeting were Protopresbyter Nikolai Balashov, secretary of the Moscow Patriarchate's Section for Interchurch Relations, and Hieromonk Merkurije, an official of the same agency.

The Serbian Orthodox Church delegation arrived in Moscow on the basis of a decision by the Serbian Orthodox Church's Holy Assembly made in 2005. The purpose of the visit was to inform the Patriarch and the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian state leadership of the efforts of Serbian Patriarch Pavle and the bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church to resolve the issue of the schism in the Republic of Macedonia; to acquaint them with their views and activities on the eve of negotiations on the future status of Kosovo and Metohija; and to discuss church issues related to the forthcoming referendum on the status of Montenegro.

Metropolitan Amfilohije also informed Patriarch Alexey of the outcomes of the international conference on “The Church and the state in a changing world: The search for partnerships for resolving modern problems” recently held in Cetinje. Patriarch Alexey stated with satisfaction that there were signs of improvement in the situation in the Republic of Macedonia following the announcement of the imminent release of the imprisoned head of the Orthodox Church in Macedonia, His Beatitude Jovan the Archbishop of Ochrid and Metropolitan of Skoplje. At the end of the meeting the Serbian bishops thanked Patriarch Alexey for his efforts toward the strengthening of all-Orthodox unity, as well as for his support in resolving all problems confronting the Serbian Orthodox Church, especially with regard to crucified Kosovo and Metohija.

In Moscow the members of the SOC delegation also met with Metropolitan Kyrill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, the director of the Moscow Patriarchate's Section for Interchurch Relations with whom they discussed the aforementioned topics, as well as topics of interest to the entire Orthodox world. The delegation visited the St. Sergei-Trinity Lavra and revered the holy relics of St. Sergei Radonesky, as well as visiting the Moscow Spiritual Academy.

Source: www.pravoslavie.ru, Svetigora Press