Eparchial (Diocesan) News

Annual Diocesan Assembly at the St. Simeon Mirotocivi Serbian Orthodox Church in North Miami, Florida

His Grace Bishop Dr. MITROPHAN, Diocesan Bishop scheduled the Annual Diocesan Assembly at the St. Simeon Mirotocivi Serbian Orthodox Church in North Miami, Florida. The Assembly was held on February 27-28, 2009. In addition to His Grace Bishop Dr. MITROPHAN, Assembly participants included Diocesan clergy, Diocesan Council members, Audit Board members, parish Executive Board Presidents, delegates and observers.

The Annual Assembly reviews the work of the Diocese from the preceding year and establishes goals for the coming year. At the Assembly the Bishop defines and expresses the vision for the Diocese for the present and future.

Australia holds National Mourning Day after fires

On Sunday, 22 February 2009 Australians held a National Day of Mourning service in the Melbourne Park Rod Laver Arena for the victims of wildfires that killed hundreds this month, and survivors were promised the nation would support them in the massive task of rebuilding.

Tears flowed as The Honourable Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the hellish blazes of "Black Saturday" on Feb. 7 - which killed more than 200 people - had tested the nation's character, and the response was courage, compassion and resilience.

Annual Clergy Meeting and Seminar at the St. Petka Serbian Orthodox Church in San Marcos

On the final day of the Assembly, Saturday, February 14th at the St. Petka Serbian Orthodox Church, all the Clergy and faithful joined His Grace Bishop Maxim in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at which time Hierodeacon Hilarion from the St. Herman of Alaska Monastery was ordained to the Holy Priesthood. Following the Holy Liturgy everyone traveled to the Sretenje Monastery Grounds where lunch was served. Following lunch the Clergy and Delegates returned to St. Petka for several more hours of Assembly work. Upon completion of the last meeting everyone departed to their homes and parishes.This year's three day Assembly of lectures, meetings and fellowship hosted by the parishioners of St. Petka Church was a very successful and productive event enjoyed by all who attended.

On the Celebration of Serbian National Day: Independence and Nationhood 1804-1835-2009

IRINEJ, BISHOP OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHRUCH

THE FEAST OF THE MEETING OF OUR LORD IN THE TEMPLE, 15 FEBRUARY 2009

ROCKDALE COUNCIL ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, ROCKDALE - SYDNEY

Desecrated Orthodox church in the Kolunic settlement near Bosanski Petrovac

In the night between 11th and 12th February 2009, unknown persons broke in and desecrated the Orthodox church in the Kolunic settlement near Bosanski Petrovac, which has caused great concern among the innumerous returning Serbs in that area of the Muslim-Croat entity, the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, report the media in the Republic of Srpska. At the same time, the Serbian Orthodox Eparchy there has communicated that unknown vandals have tried breaking in the St. Sava Cathedral in Drvar. The eparchy points out that in the last couple of years the attacks are continuing against everything Serb in that area, and especially the Orthodox temples, without culprits ever being found. During the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina the Bosniaks have destroyed of damaged all 12 churches in the region of Bosanski Petrovac, and only three have been renewed after the conflict. Before the war, there were 12,500 Serbs living there, and now 4,250 have returned from refugee dwelling. They live in very difficult conditions, as they are deprived of the right to work, and the school students are forbidden from the use of the Serbian language and Cyrillic alphabet.

Milan Perkovic

Source: Eparchy of Bihac and Petrovac