NEWS AND EVENTS - Wednesday, March 3, 2010

RESOLUTIONS
of the Annual Assembly of the
Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Eastern America
February 26-27, 2010

српски

The clergy and congregation representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Eastern America, gathered at the annual Diocesan Assembly held at St. Sava Cathedral in Cleveland, Ohio on February 26-27, 2010 under the omophorion of their Archpastor Rt. Rev. Bishop Dr. MITROPHAN, adopted the following resolutions:

1. The words of His Holiness Patriarch Pavle of blessed memory are still fresh in our minds: “Let our words be mild, but our arguments powerful.” Because of our belief in the resurrection we continue to experience a joyful sadness at his translation into the heavenly Church. May God grant his soul blessed repose!

The All-Merciful Lord filled us with spiritual joy when the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, in its concern for the unity of the Patriarchate, elected by the Holy Spirit as our Church’s 45th Patriarch His Grace Irinej, long-time bishop of the diocese of Nis.

We welcome his election and sincerely greet His Holiness Patriarch Irinej, praying that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may grant him health and wisdom that he may successfully guide the ship of the Serbian Orthodox Church through the stormy waters of the new world order. Many years, Holy Master!

2. We remain extremely concerned about the crisis in the Serbian province of Kosovo and Metohije. This Diocese has consistently supported the stand of the Holy Assembly of Bishops and of the Serbian government that the declaration of an independent, Albanian ruled Kosovo is an illegal action both in international law and contrary to United Nations resolutions. We continue to support this stand, and once again reaffirm our unshakable determination that Kosovo is and remains Serbia.

We have all heard that His Grace Bishop Artemije of Raska-Prizren, the Bishop of Kosovo and Metohija, has been suspended from the administration of his diocese and is being investigated by the Holy Synod. This news if very regrettable as Bishop Artemije has been a heroic figure standing up for justice and truth for his suffering Orthodox Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija. We are not privy to the issues between Bishop Artemije and the Holy Synod, but have heard many conflicting rumors. We pray that the issues between the Holy Synod and Bishop Artemije will be resolved fairly and quickly by the Holy Assembly of Bishops on their own ecclesiastical merits, independent of any and all extraneous considerations. We hope that at the conclusion of this process His Grace Bishop Artemije will be able to return as the head of his Diocese.

3. We are grateful to God and overjoyed that we finally, after so many years, are meeting together as clergy and parish representatives of one unified territorial diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Eastern America. May this unity in one Faith, one Church and one Lord never again be broken. We call on all our congregations to support our diocese and Bishop, to take seriously the faith and order of the Orthodox Church, and to work on implementing that order in the lives of their local communities.

Greetings to Bishops Georgije, Longin and Maxim

The annual Assembly of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Eastern America, held at St. Sava Cathedral in Cleveland, Ohio February 26-27, 2010 under the omophor of our Archpastor, His Grace Bishop Dr. Mitrophan, extends its greetings to Your Grace and all our brothers and sisters of Your God-protected Diocese. We look forward to continuing with You and Your flock our common work of building up the Body of Christ in all its fullness in the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America. May God protect and preserve both You and Your flock, and grant You many years of dividing God’s truth. Eis polla eti, Despota!

Greeting to Metropolitan Christopher

The annual Assembly of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Eastern America, held at St. Sava Cathedral in Cleveland, Ohio February 26-27, 2010 under the omophor of our Archpastor, His Grace Bishop Dr. Mitrophan, extends its greetings to Your Eminence and all our brothers and sisters of Your God-protected Metropolitanate. We look forward to continuing with You and Your flock our common work of building up the Body of Christ in all its fullness in the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America. May God protect and preserve both You and Your flock, and grant You many years of dividing God’s truth. Eis polla eti, Despota!