New Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Elected

The Church of Athens and of All Greece is currently celebrating and chanting doxology in the honor of the newly elected head of the Greek Orthodox Church.

The new Archbishop of Athens and All Greece is Ieronymos, former Metropolitan of Thebes and Livadia. He was elected by 43 votes during a recent extraordinary session of the Holy Assembly of the Church of Greece.

Visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople

In accordance with the Holy Synod of Bishops' decision and in the name of the the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Archbishop of Cetinje and Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Coastlands Amfilohije, the Archbishop of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skoplje Jovan, as well as the Archbishop of Backa Irinej, visited the Ecumenical Patriachate of Constantinople and His All Holiness Archbishop of Constantinople and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on February 5 and 6.

At the occasion, the delegation of the Serbian Orthodox Church officially consigned a Томos of the of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church on granting autonomy to the Orthodox Achdiocese of Ohrid.

Besides the talks held with Patriarch Bartholomew, during this visit the representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church also had the occasion to meet members of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, which is presently convening for its regular session.

Patriarch Bartholomew sent his prayers and best wishes to His Holiness Patriarch Pavle and bestowed his patriarchal blessing to the entire local Serbian Orthodox Church.

Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church

Bulletin Issued by the Permanent Medical Council of the Military Medical Academy (VMA) on the Health Condition of Serbian Patria

The bulletin issued on the 6th of February by the permanent medical council of the Military Medical Academy (VMA), Belgrade, contains the following statement on the health condition of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle:

«The health condition of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle remains stable, with normal vital function parameters. The treatment plan continues, alongside consultations with the medical staff's council members.»

Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church

A Russian missionary called the Gospels of Judas TV film antiscientific and anti-Christian

Moscow, February 4, Interfax – Documentary the Gospels of Judas broadcast on Russian television is antiscientific and was produced by people who hate Christianity, professor of the Moscow Theological Academy deacon Andrey Kurayev believes. ‘The film is both antiscientific and anti-Christian. It is antiscientific primarily because the spectator does not get from it the essence of the Gnostic myth,’ Fr. Andrey said in his interview to Interfax-Religion.

Vatican issues cautious statement after visit by Kosovo leader

Vatican, Feb. 4, 2008 (CWNews.com) - After Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) met on February 2 with Fatmir Sejdiu, the president of Kosovo, the Vatican press office issued a statement emphasizing that the Holy See was not changing its policy regarding the possible independence of the Serbian province.

The Vatican "will follow developments on the ground with particular attention," the official statement indicated. The communiqué went on to say that the Holy See looked for a peaceful resolution of conflicts there, respectful of the rights of all parties.