Communique of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church held in Belgrade May 14-25, 2016

The regular meeting of the Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church began at the Patriarchate of Pec monastery with the joint serving of the holy hierarchical Divine Liturgy and the invocation of the Holy Spirit and continued in Prizren with the rite of consecration of the renovated Prizren Seminary. Afterward, all regular meetings, under the presidency of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej, were held in Belgrade. Participating in the Assembly were all diocesan hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church with the exception of Bishop Lavrentije of Sabac who, out of justifiable reasons, was not able to attend.

The monastic brotherhood of Dechany led by its abbot, Very Venerable Archimandrite Sava, welcomed His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej and Hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church, on the occasion of the beginning of the regular session of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, on the afternoon on 14 May 2016.

His Royal Highness Prince Alexander Karadjordjevic, the eldest son of Their Royal Highnesses Prince Paul and Princess Olga was buried today in the Saint George Church yard in Oplenac. Their Graces Bishop Jovan of Sumadija and Bishop Irinej of Australia and New Zealand officiated the funeral service at 10:30 am.

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, officiated the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy with the conciliar concelebration of the hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church at the Patriarchate of Pec on 14 May 2016. They all gathered on the occasion of the beginning of the regular session of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch and Their Graces Bishops, members of the Holy Assembly of Bishops ouf our Church, arrived at the Patriarchate of Pec on 13 May 2016.

Christ is Risen!

On Tuesday, May 10th, we lost a dear brother and resident of the St. Herman House, Fr. Seraphim "Samuel" Steve. A native of Cleveland, Fr. Seraphim (age 75) was with us for four months and was a great blessing to our work on behalf of those in need. We had made numerous plans with respect to his future with us and had hoped to utilize his expertise in working with those suffering from addiction. In the months since his arrival, he had endeared himself to our residents, volunteers, and all. On a personal note, I will miss him greatly. Within weeks of his arrival, Father began to suffer with a number of maladies and, untimely for us, passed away. My wife and I had a wonderful visit with him on St. Thomas Sunday and we said the Paschal Hours together as he held a lit candle. Unable to attend the services of the Great and Holy Pascha, it was for all intents and purposes his Pascha service for this year. Father now celebrates the unending day of Resurrection in eternity. "This is the day which the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad therin!"

Australian women medical volunteers and Australian soldiers decorated by Serbia in World War One to be commemorated

An exhibition of Serbian medals through history and the decorations awarded to a little known group of Australian women medical volunteers and to a number of Australian Army soldiers in World War One, will be held on Sunday 8th May at the St Lazarus Serbian Orthodox Church, 14 Renwick St, Alexandria, NSW, as part of the National Trust Heritage Festival 2016.

Beloved monastics, clergy, all sons and daughters, faithful spiritual children of our Holy Church in Australia and New Zealand, from a paternal heart overflowing with Paschal joy, We greet you on this great and most radiant Feast of Feasts with the inspiring words of Saint John the Theologian:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth . . . the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them; He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away."

The Serbian Orthodox Church to her spiritual children at Pascha, 2016

+IRINEJ

By the Grace of God

Orthodox Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade Karlovci and Serbian Patriarch, with all the Hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church to all the clergy, monastics, and all the sons and daughters of our Holy Church: grace, mercy and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, with the joyous Paschal greeting:

Christ is Risen!

"Christ is risen, trampling down death and raising the dead. Rejoice, all you people!"

Her Majesty ELIZABETH II
The Queen of the United Kingdom,
Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, and
Head of the Commonwealth
Buckingham Palace
London SW1A 1AA

You have placed crowns of precious stones upon their heads.
They asked life of you and you gave it to them—long life forever and evermore!
(Ps. 21:3-4)

Your Majesty,

In this day in which we commemorate the 90th year of Your Majesty's birth, kindly allow Us to express, on Our own behalf and on behalf of Our hierarchs, clergy, monastics and faithful, living throughout Your domain Our earnest offering of congratulations and sincere appreciation to the Lord for Your long life, and for Your most gracious Reign.