In connection with the death of the Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Patriarch Irenei, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, expressed his condolences to the hierarchs of the Serbian Patriarchate - His Grace Bishop Dositey of Britain and Scandinavia and His Grace Bishop Irenej of Eastern America. 

Your Graces!

It is with sadness and grief that I write to Your Grace to express my deepest condolences on the loss of your beloved father in God, Irinej, Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovci and Patriarch of Serbia.

On behalf of the clergy and laity of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, please accept our sincere and profound condolences to you and all the clergy and people of the Serbian Orthodox Church who are grieving the death of His Holiness Patriarch Irinej.

His Holiness was not only the Head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, but for 20 years, he was also a spiritual leader and an example for all who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Over the many years of his primatial ministry, His Holiness worked diligently for the Glory of God and for the good of the Holy Church, did much to preserve the unity of world Orthodoxy and not only won the love of his flock, but gained deep respect from all who knew him.

May Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is indeed the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25), give rest to the soul of His newly-departed servant where there is no pain, no sorrow, no sighing, but life everlasting.

Eternal memory and the Kingdom of Heaven!

With reverential love in the Lord,

MATTHEW

Bishop of Sourozh

Interim Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Canada and Mexico

GREETINGS AND BLESSINGS TO THE FAITHFUL IN UK & REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

DOSITEJ, BISHOP OF GREAT BRITAIN-SCANDINAVIAN DIOCESE

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you shall have distress: but have confidence, I have overcome the world (Jn.16.33)

As I have not personally, for a long time now, had the opportunity to visit you, my dear diocesans; I am approaching you in this manner at the time of the Corona virus pandemic.

The pandemic has had a particularly hard impact on you in the United Kingdom such that your government has recently imposed new isolation measures in order to prevent the spread of the virus.

The consequences of the virus affect every person and every family and particularly impacted are those who have lost their loved ones. The pain of such losses is heightened with not being allowed to organise traditional funerals in order to bid the most dignified farewells to their loved ones. I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest condolences to those families.

Many have unfortunately been left without jobs and may be suffering hardship, whilst others are endeavouring with hard work to keep their employment so that they can provide their families with their basic needs. Others who may follow the sometimes disturbed political occurrences in the world may fear instability and civil disorder. Many are fighting with anxiety because of isolation and inability to meet with friends and family.

The prayers of our Church and my thoughts are with you all, with the desire that you resist temptation and place your faith in Him who can help you. And he is Christ.

That your faith might not stand on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God (1. Cor. 2.5)

I warmly recommend that you visit your churches and to take there your rays of prayer for us to be sustained in health and good spiritual disposition. It’s particularly important to meet at Holy Liturgies which are a pledge to our eternal life; clearly when the laws allow and in the manner prescribed by the powers that be.

When you are prohibited from going to a Holy Liturgy, then redouble your personal prayers at home as you would in a church. I ask you to take care of your personal health as the unique gift that God has given you, and care for the health of those closest to you, as you do your own.

Upon us is the season of great Church celebrations and family saint days. Celebrate your “Slavas”, this year with your families and of course with incense, a candle and a blessed Slava bread. Throughout our history our people have had hard times but we have always maintained our “Slavas” and the “Slavas” have helped to maintain us.

It’s necessary that in these times when personal visits are impossible that you contact those closest to you by phone or letter and especially the elderly for whom isolation is the greatest burden. A kind word of consolation and prudence which you offer them follow Gospel commandment which says

Bear ye one another’s burdens; and so you shall fulfil the law of Christ (Gal. 6.2)

For all spiritual advice and discussion and other such needs please refer to your parish priests who are your guides through prayer and your representatives before God and they will make time and effort to be of service as they do in the service of God.

God bless you, and grant you faith, hope and love. 

Bishop Dositej, The monastery of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin

5 November 2020  

The Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovci and Serbian Patriarch (Gavrilovic) reposed in the Lord in the Military Covid Hospital "Karaburma" in Belgrade, on Friday, November 20, 2020, at 7:07 AM.

All other details regarding the funeral of His Holiness the Patriarch will be announced soon. Eternal memory and the Kingdom of Heaven!

VIDEO

BOOK OF CONDOLENCES

His pious parents Zdravko and MilijanaGavrilovic from the village of Vidova near Cacak - and with them the entire Serbian family - were blessed the by the Lord, on August 27, 1930, with the birth of a male child whose baptismal name was Miroslav. He finished elementary school in his native village and high school in Cacak and the Theological School in Prizren, Kosovo and Metohia. Thereupon he graduated from the Faculty of Theology in Belgrade.

After completing his military service, he was appointed professor of the Prizren Theological School, but before accepting the appointment he received monastic tonsure in the monastery of Rakovica, by the Serbian Patriarch German, receiving the monastic name Irinej, in October 1959. On the Holy and Great Friday of the same year, he was ordained a hieromonk in the church of Ruzica, Belgrade. As professor at the Prizren Theological School, he spent some years at postgraduate studies in Athens. He was appointed principal of the Monastic School in the Ostrog monastery in 1969, from where he returned to Prizren to the position of Principal of that famous Theological School.

It was in 1974 that he was elected Vicar Bishop of the Serbian Patriarch with the title of Bishop of Moravica. He was elected Bishop of Nis in 1975.

The act of enthronement of His Holiness Irinej, Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovci and Serbian Patriarch, was performed on January 23, 2010, during the Holy Hierarchical Liturgy in Belgrade’s Cathedral church of Archangel Michael. The solemn Liturgy was officiated by the elected Serbian Patriarch Irinej with the concelebration of his brothers Bishops, priests and deacons, as well as representatives of the Russian and Greek Churches. Patriarch Irinej was formally enthroned to the ancient throne of the Serbian Patriarchs in the Patriarchate of Pec monastery on 3 October 2010, with participation of the representatives of all sister Orthodox Churches.

Dear parishioners, 

Due to the new Government restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic, we are very sorry to inform you that from November 5th 2020 services will be celebrated without parishioners' participation. The Sacraments of Baptism (except in cases of mortal threat to life) and Weddings are temporarily suspended.

St Sava Church will be open for visits and individual prayers every day from 9.00am to 1.00pm. All believers who wish to come for a private prayer are welcome. Priests will be available for a conversation or a prayer every weekend and on feast days.

The blessing of Slavski Kolac will be done from 9.00 to 13.00. We kindly ask that just one of your family brings the cake to the Church in order to avoid crowds and stick to the rule of individual prayer. All who come to the Church are obliged to wear a face mask, and the priests will be wearing them, for the food is blessed during the sacrament that will be served to the family.

We are prevented from celebrating our St Patron's Day (Slava) with "kumovi" and friends, but we need to observe and honor our Patron saints with our hearts and souls with our families at home, at "Home Church". May God’s blessings be upon all of you and your families, with the prayerful intercession of the Saint you celebrate, the protector of your home and family.

For any queries please call the office or priests on their mobile phones.

These measures will continue until further notice from the Government.

London 4th November 2020.
Church Congregation Council