| Representative of the ROC Spoke at the 19th All-American Council Meeting Source: DECR Pravmir.com team 16 August 2018 The 19 th All-American Council of the Orthodox Church in America was held from July 23 6to 27, 2018, in St. Louis, Missouri. Its opening was preceded by a solemn thanksgiving presided over by His Beatitude Tikhon, Metropolitan of All America and Canada. The sessions were attended by members of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America, hierarchy, clergy and laity from all over North America. Among the guests were hierarchs of the Orthodox Churches of Constantinople and Alexandria, the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, as well as the Finnish Autonomous Orthodox Church. With a blessing of His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, the Russian Orthodox Church was represented by Bishop Flavian of Cherepovets and Belozersk. The theme of the 19 th All-American Council, ‘For the Life of the World’, was based on the work of the same name by Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann. The history of the writing of this book, loved by many Christians, was told to the Council by Father Alexander’s son Serge. In his introductory speech, His Beatitude Tikhon reminded the gathering that in his numerous works, St. Tikhon the Patriarch of All Russia, when he was a bishop in North America in the period from 1897 to 1907, often called people ‘to be partakers of the Body of Christ’. His Beatitude reminded the gathering that this call is relevant in our days as well. Metropolitan Tikhon also spoke on several urgent problems facing the Church today and reminded the Council of the Orthodox Church in America’s calling to the evangelical mission. Bishop Flavian brought greetings to the Council on behalf of the Russian Orthodox Church and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. He noted in particular, ‘The Russian Orthodox Church has never weakened her communion in prayer with her beloved sister – the Orthodox Church in America. |
| Accept The site uses cookies to help show you the most up-to-date information. By continuing to use the site, you consent to the use of your Metadata and cookies. Cookie policy The Primates of the Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches head the Divine Liturgy and take the funeral for the bishop of Moravica Anthony at the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow DECR Communication service, 16.03.2024. On 16th March 2024 on the day of all the venerable fathers who have shone forth, a moveable feast celebrated on the Saturday of Cheese-Fare Week, at the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and His Holiness the Patriarch of Serbia Profirije headed the Divine Liturgy and tool the funeral service for the newly-departed bishop of Moravica Anthony, the auxiliary of the Patriarch of Serbia, representative of the Patriarch of Serbia to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, and dean of the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul at the Yauza Gates in Moscow, which also serves as the representation church (metochion) of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Moscow. The bishop of Moravica Anthony reposed in the Lord on 11th March 2024 after and long and grave illness. Up until 15th March the body of the newly-reposed bishop lay in its coffin at the Serbian metochion in Moscow at the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul by the Yauza Gates. In the morning of 16th March the coffin with the body of the newly-departed bishop was transported to the Christ the Saviour Cathedral and placed in the centre of the church. Wreaths were placed of the steps of the solea fr om the Patriarch of Moscow and the Patriarch of Serbia. Concelebrating with the primates of the Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches were: the chancellor the Moscow Patriarchy and first auxiliary bishop of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia for the city of Moscow the metropolitan of Voskresensk Gregory; the chairman of the Department for External Church Relations the metropolitan of Volokolamsk Anthony; the metropolitan of Kazan and Tatarstan Kirill; the director of the administrative secretariat of the Moscow Patriarchy the archbishop of Odintsovo Thomas; the archbishop of Yegorievsk Matthew; the bishop of Zheleznogorsk and Lgov Paisius; the bishops of the delegation of the Serbian Orthodox Church - the bishop of Baka Irinej; the bishop of Upper Karlovac Gerasim; the bishop of Valjevo Isihije; the bishop of Remesiana Stefan; the bishop of Jegra Nektarije and the bishop of Toplica Petr. |
| Communiqu of the Holy Hierarchical Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church Regarding the recent events in Kosovo and Metohija The Holy Hierarchical Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church, at their special meeting held at the Patriarchate on February 17, 2008 brings the following public address for the local and international media regarding the latest events in Kosovo and Metohija admin 21 February 2008 Source: www.serborth.org The Holy Hierarchical Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church, at their special meeting held at the Patriarchate on February 17, 2008 brings the following public address for the local and international media regarding the latest events in Kosovo and Metohija: As the Church has stated countless times in the past also now she states that Kosovo and Metohija was and must remain an integral part of Serbia, in accordance to the United Nations Charter, the Security Council Resolution 1244, as well as all other similar international conventions on human rights and the rights of a people and the protection of internationally recognized borders. Any other decision represents a violation of Divine and human laws, as well as an assault with long ranging consequences, for both the Balkans and all of Europe. All internationally recognized and ratified conventions, not annulled till now by any international act, beginning with the Agreement concluded in 1913, the international resolutions dated 1918 and 1945, to until the UN Security Council Resolution 1244 from 1999, together with the recent acceptance into UN membership of integral Serbia, all confirm that excluding Kosovo and Metohija from Serbia represents a form of violence equal only to the periods of occupations and tyranny, which we hoped definitely belonged to the past of Europe and the world. In this particular case it represents a new legalization of the centuries-old Ottoman tyranny and its impact on the entire region, as well as a repetition of the application of a Fascistic solution (that of Mussolini and Hitler) to the Kosovo question from the time of World War II, when Kosovo and Metohija were annexed to so-called Great Albania, when hundreds of thousands of Orthodox Serbs were expelled from their homes, just like in 1999, with the objective of not having them return, ever. |
| On the Life, Glorification, and Incorrupt Relics of St. Mardarije of Libertyville St. Mardarije, being led by the hand by St. Sava to offer the monastery in Libertyville to the Lord. Photo: miloje.org At the May 29, 2015 session of the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the names of Archimandrite Sebastian (Dabovich) and Bishop Mardarije (Uskokovic), clergymen and preachers of the Gospel, God-pleasing servants of holy life, and inspirers of many missionaries, were added to the calendar of saints of the Orthodox Church. The annual commemorations of St. Mardarije of Libertyville, Bishop of America and Canada, and St. Sebastian of San Francisco and Jackson are observed on November 29/December 12 and November 17/30 respectively. The glorification celebration of St. Sebastian occurred on Saturday, September 5, 2015 at St. Stephen's Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, Alhambra, California. Now the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of New Gracanica and Midwestern America invites all to participate in the Pan-Orthodox glorification of St. Mardarije of Libertyville and All-America, to be celebrated at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Monastery in Libertyville, IL, from Friday July 14-Sunday July 16, by His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia. In preparation for his glorification ceremony, St. Mardarije’s relics were recently opened and found to be incorrupt from the knees up, with skin and hair still intact, bearing witness to the sanctity of this holy God-pleaser, already confirmed by his inclusion among the ranks of the saints. St. Mardarije joins the ranks of St. John Maximovitch and St. Alexis Toth, whose incorrupt relics are already treasures for Orthodox Christians in America. Life of St. Mardarije Photo: orthodoxtacoma.com St. Mardarije was born Ivan Uskokovic in Podgoritsa, Montenegro, in 1889. In 1907, he embraced monasticism at the Studenitsa Monastery and then relocated to Russia to study at the St. Petersburg Theological Academy. After graduation, he was ordained by the Russian Orthodox Church and sent as a missionary to America. |
| Bishop of the Serbian Church Speaks at International Conference on Violations of Believers’ Rights in Ukraine Source: DECR His Grace Bishop Joanikije of Budimlja and Niksic of the Serbian Orthodox Church delivered a speech at the international “Violation of the Rights of the Faithful in Ukraine” conference which was held in Moscow on May 29. Here is his full address: In the actions undertaken by the Patriarchate of Constantinople in Ukraine to recognize and merge two groups headed by two schismatics (one of them is anathematized) and to present thus created structure with “autocephaly”, which has not been recognized by any of the other Orthodox Churches, there is nothing that would have been done in accordance with holy canons and the commonly accepted church procedure of granting the status of autocephaly. If, in the very beginning, grave canonical violations were committed (in the first place, an invasion in the canonical territory of the Moscow Patriarchate and the self-governed Ukrainian Orthodox Church without their consent and a “cancellation” of the 1686 decision of Patriarch Dionysius of Constantinople, by which the Metropolis of Kiev was transferred to the Moscow Patriarchate, and with a stubborn refusal to hold dialogue with the Moscow Patriarchate and other Orthodox Churches who pointed to these violations), then all the consequent actions, too, have proved to be unlawful and uncanonical. The Russian Orthodox Church timely and soundly analyzed Fanar’s actions and evaluated it on the canonical basis, which helped other Orthodox Churches take the right stand on this painful issue. Without going into more details of the canonical aspect of this issue, we will only point out some of its most important particulars. In this case, the Patriarchate of Constantinople has shown its readiness to interpret centuries-old ecclesiastical provisions in conformity only with its own interests by ignoring the inalienable rights of others and the legal logic on the whole. As for the cancellation of the 1686 decision to transfer the Metropolis of Kiev to the Moscow Patriarchate, we believe that by this logic it can just as well annul other similar documents important to Churches, including tomoses granted in previous centuries to other Local Churches. |
| " The fates of Russians and Serbs have been intertwined by Divine providence " —Pat. Kirill Moscow, September 14, 2017 Photo: b92.net His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia spoke recently in an interview about the warm filial relations between the Russia and Serbian peoples. “You know, an incredible feeling overwhelms a Russian when they come to Serbia. You don't feel you’re in a foreign country. On the contrary, you feel at home, surrounded by your brothers,” primate told the website Iskra in an exclusive interview, B92 reports . “Our countries have so much in common. Above all, of course, there is our common faith, our common spiritual and moral values, our close cultures and close historical ties,” Pat. Kirill added. Emphasizing this ancient spiritual connection, Russia is planning to create a Russia, Serbia, Greece could launch European pilgrimage route In the future, Russia and its European partners could develop a historical and cultural travel itinerary inspired by the work of Peter the Great. The project could be joined by Austria, France and possibly Holland. " > European pilgrimage route jointly with Serbia and Greece, Russian Deputy Culture Minister Alla Manilova stated in June 2016. “I always think about Serbia with special feelings. I have visited your hospitable Serbian land several times, back when I was the chairman of the Church’s foreign relations department. The Lord has dignified me with visiting your beautiful country twice as patriarch,” Kirill said. Pat. Kirill visited Serbia in Patriarch Of Moscow And All Russia Arrives In Serbia This is a regular visit during which Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia will talk with Serbian Patriarch Irinej about the most important issues in the Christian world, and other issues related to the two Churches, the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) has stated. " > November 2014 to consecrate the then-newly erected monument to Tsar Nicholas II. Monument to Tsar and Passion-Bearer Nicolas II to be unveiled in Bosnia and Herzegovina The monument was to be unveiled on June 21, 2014, in Banja Luka on the initiative of the Serbian Republic’s (Bosnia and Herzegovina) president, the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies, the St. |
| Archive Paper read by Bishop Joanikije of Budimlja and Niksic (Serbian Orthodox Church) at international academic reflection-action conference on Violations of Rights of Believers in Ukraine 5 June 2019 year 11:31 In the actions undertaken by the Patriarchate of Constantinople in Ukraine to recognize and merge two groups headed by two schismatics (one of them is anathematized) and to present thus created structure with “autocephaly”, which has not been recognized by any of the other Orthodox Churches, there is nothing that would have been done in accordance with holy canons and the commonly accepted church procedure of granting the status of autocephaly. If, in the very beginning, grave canonical violations were committed (in the first place, an invasion in the canonical territory of the Moscow Patriarchate and the self-governed Ukrainian Orthodox Church without their consent and a “cancellation” of the 1686 decision of Patriarch Dionysius of Constantinople, by which the Metropolis of Kiev was transferred to the Moscow Patriarchate, and with a stubborn refusal to hold dialogue with the Moscow Patriarchate and other Orthodox Churches who pointed to these violations), then all the consequent actions, too, have proved to be unlawful and uncanonical. The Russian Orthodox Church timely and soundly analyzed Fanar’s actions and evaluated it on the canonical basis, which helped other Orthodox Churches take the right stand on this painful issue. Without going into more details of the canonical aspect of this issue, we will only point out some of its most important particulars. In this case, the Patriarchate of Constantinople has shown its readiness to interpret centuries-old ecclesiastical provisions in conformity only with its own interests by ignoring the inalienable rights of others and the legal logic on the whole. As for the cancellation of the 1686 decision to transfer the Metropolis of Kiev to the Moscow Patriarchate, we believe that by this logic it can just as well annul other similar documents important to Churches, including tomoses granted in previous centuries to other Local Churches. |
| The hierarchs warn that they will quit the Assembly of Canonical Bishops if Belya becomes a member L to R: Abp. Elpidophoros, Pat. Bartholomew, Alexander Belya. Photo: slavonic.org A number of top hierarchs of the jurisdictions of the Canonical Assembly of Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America have united to protest the Greek Archdiocese’s planned consecration to the episcopacy of a defrocked former archimandrite. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, a jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, announced earlier this month that the Constantinople Synod elected Alexander Belya as an auxiliary bishop of the Greek Archdiocese for its Slavic Vicariate, with his consecration set for July 30. However, Belya is, in fact, a defrocked former archimandrite of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. In a letter addressed to the Greek Archdiocese’s Archbishop Elpidophoros, the signing hierarchs, His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph (Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America), His Grace Bishop Longin (Serbian Orthodox Church in North, Central and South America), His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae (Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas), His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph (Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Australia), and His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon (Orthodox Church in America), warn that the consecration of Belya poses a great threat to Orthodox unity in America. In fact, if Belya is made a bishop and therefore becomes a member of the Assembly of Bishops, the hierarchs warn that they will be forced to quit the Assembly, as they recognize the canonicity of his defrocking by ROCOR in 2020. Besides Abp. Elpidophoros, the letter was also sent to Patriarch Bartholomew and all members of the Assembly of Bishops. “In addition to our canonical concerns, we have serious questions about his character based on past direct and indirect interactions with him and his family,” the bishops write to Abp. Elpidophoros. |
| My Freedom in Prison A Conversation with Archbishop Jovan of Ochrid (Vranishkovsky) “We learn the most from what we have experienced ourselves; and it’s not important whether it brought us pain or joy. Before the mystery of life, the one who looks the most serious and responsible is the one who accepts life as joyful sorrow,” says Archbishop Jovan, imprisoned for a number of years in Idrizovo. “Why did you betray us, priest?” was what the policeman asked Archbishop Jovan (Vranishkovsky) in Skopje’s Izidrovo prison, letting him know how little he respects his ecclesiastical rank and what he thinks of his mission, which Archbishop Jovan considers his life’s work. This mission is to return the faithful of Macedonia to unity with all the other Orthodox Churches. Archbishop Jovan was once consecrated (the youngest bishop at the time) in the uncanonical Macedonian Orthodox Church (MOC), and later became Metropolitan of Veleshko-Povardar. From that moment, in 2002, he was the only Macedonian hierarch who responded to the call by Serbian Patriarch Pavle to return to canonical unity with the Serbian Orthodox Church, and legal processes began against him. He was sentenced for “self-rule,” “inciting religious and national strife,” and embezzlement. Nevertheless, the policeman did not ask him about the first, second, or third counts. He just asked him straight out: “Priest, why did you betray Macedonianism?” If you read this episode in the book by Archbishop Jovan, Freedom in Prison, you get the impression that the Macedonian policeman was not particularly interested in hearing an answer. But Archbishop Jovan answered that he did not betray “Macedonianism” by taking a step that he is convinced will return the Orthodox Church of Macedonia to the boundaries and unity with all the rest of the Orthodox Churches. Because of his mission, he has become one of the rare bishops—if not the only bishop—in twenty-first century Europe who has been to prison for his religious convictions. It is no secret that he was offered pardon of all his accusations if he would only leave Macedonia. This is sufficient proof that they were groundless, and shows how determined Archbishop Jovan was to remain in his own country, with his own convictions. In early February (of 2014), Archbishop Jovan was released on probation after over two years in prison. |
| The English Language is Very Suitable for Expressing the Theology of the Church Conversation with Bishop Maxim on Sebastian Press (Vasiljevic) of Hum Sebastian Press Publications, which bears the name of the great Orthodox Christian missionary in North America, Archimandrite Sebastian Dabovich, has enriched Christian literature in the English language during the last few years with its valuable translations of the interesting and resourceful works of Serbian theologians to English. Among the authors translated into English are the works of St. Bishop Nikolaj of Zicha (Velimirovic), St. Abba Justin of Celije , Bishop Atanasije Jevtic, Bishop Danilo Krstic, Bishop Ignjatije Midic, Bishop Maxim Vasiljevic, Dr. Nenand Milosevic, Fr. Dr. Vladan Perisic, Bogoljub Sijakovic, Fr. Radovan Bigovic, and there are also books of significance by Christos Yannaras, John Zizioulas, Archimandrite Emilijan of Simonopetra and Fr. Stamatis Skliris. This publishing endeavor is of great significance, not merely because contemporary Serbian theological thought is presented to English speaking readers, but because of the fact that the English language is like the old Greek language during the time of Alexander the Great – a means for global communication, conversation, traffic between continents and nations, among people throughout the globe. The fact that many esteemed Orthodox theologians worked and wrote (and still work) in English speaks of the significance of the English language today – the modern koine language or the lingua franca. For example, Bishop Nikolaj Velimirovich, during his mission in Great Britain, wrote and published his works in English at the beginning and mid 20th century. V. Rev. Alexander Schmemann, Fr. Georges Florovsky, Fr. John Meyendorff — corypheuses of Orthodox theology, initiators of the Orthodox theological awakening in the 20 th century — published their most influential and most famous works in English. Metropolitan John Zizioulas, one of the greatest living theologians today, writes also in English. |
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