His Grace Bishop Atanasije served HolyLiturgytoday in the church of St. George the Great-Martyr in Prizren with the concelebration of Vicar Bishop Teodosije ofLipljan and the priestsof the Diocese of Raška and Prizren. This is the first celebration of the patron saint's day of the Cathedral Churchof the Diocese of Raška-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija since the church was re-consecrated and again placed into liturgical function. Several dozenfaithful from Prizren, Velika Hoča, Štrpce, Mitrovica and Priština took eucharistic part in the Holy Liturgy. AfterHoly Liturgy and the consecrationof the slava cake,the faithfulprepared a lunch for all in attendancein the newly restored parishhome.

The passage from the Statement of the Assembly of Bishops related to the situation in the Raska and Prizren Diocese

The Assembly fathers devoted the greatest attention and care to the Diocese of Raska-Prizren, hearing, following the reports of Bishop Artemije and Bishop-administrator Atanasije, a comprehensive and documented report by the Holy Synod regarding the serious state and massive anomalies in the life of this diocese, which for centuries has been the first in suffering and martyrdom in the history of the Church and people. Having considered the overall situation and the unfortunate occurances there, as well as the canonical responsibility of Bishop Artemije for them, and particularly for the extremely destructive, morally and canonically unacceptable actions of a number of his close associates, the Assembly, by a majority vote, permanently relieved him of his duties as diocesan bishop and placed him at the disposal of Church under the status of retired bishop. As administrator of the vacant Diocese of Raska and Prizren the Assembly appointed - actually left in place - the current administrator, the retired Bishop of Zahumlje-Herzegovina Atanasije. Bishop Artemije accepted the decision of the Assembly. This, however, does not influence his self-proclaimed 'defenders' to accept it.

The full text of the Holy Assembly Communique is following:

After the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church permanently dismissed, in the final instance, His Grace Bishop Artemije of Raška and Prizren from administering this Diocese, His Grace Bishop Atanasije of Zahumlje and Herzegovina, the present Administrator of the same Diocese, resigned from his position but at the request of His Holiness the Patriarch and the Holy Assembly of Bishops agreed to remain in the office of Administrator of the Diocese of Raška-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija until the election of a new Bishop of Raška and Prizren or the appointment of a new administrator.

Bishop Atanasije has withdrawn previously issued canonical epitimia against the elders and brotherhoods of the following monasteries: Crna Reka, Holy Archangels and Devine Vode provided they sincerely accept the decisions of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church in deed, demonstrate sincere obedience to the Bishop Administrator and later to the new Diocesan Bishop elected to the Episcopal chair.

With the blessing of Bishop Atanasije, we are attaching a copy of his act addressed to the Holy Assemby of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Bishops Atanasije welcomed the abbess of Ormylia Monastery, Mother Nicodemia, and her sisters, hieromonk Athanasios Simonopetrites (hymnographer of the Great Church and writer of the troparion to our Holy Father Justin the New), protopresbyter Stamatis Skliris and other guests from Greece who arrived in Belgrade on the occasion of the canonization of the newly revealed saints of our Church, Venerable Justin the New of Ćelije and Venerable Simeon of Dajbaba. The guests from Greece were received by His Beatitude Patriarch Irinej of Serbia in the Patriarchate building, who prepared a special luncheon for them. After taking part in the Holy Liturgy and the act of canonization of the newly revealed saints, Bishops Atanasije and Teodosije, together with the guests from Greece, the abbess of the Peć Patriarchate, Mother Fevronija, the abbess of Petropavlovski (Sts. Peter and Paul) Monastery near Trebinje, Mother Pavla, and monks from Tvrdoš Monastery visited Ćelije Monastery and venerated the tomb of Holy Avva Justin of Ćelije. We are attaching photographs taken by the sisters of Ormylia Monastery in Halkidiki. The nuns of Ormylia and monks of Simonopetra Monastery together with the faithful gathered humanitarian aid which has already been delivered for the faithful in Kosovo and Metohija. This was a special opportunity for the guests from Greece to receive the blessing of His Beatitude Patriarch Irinej, especially because Mother Nicodemia and her sisters presented as a gift to the Peć Patriarchate a new patriarchal throne, handcrafted and engraved, in which His Beatitude will be officially enthroned in October this year in the Peć Patriarchate.

The Holy Synod of Serbain Orthodox Church on session in April 29th 2010. proclaimed two new saints of the Serbian Orthodox Church Venerable Justin of Ćelije and Symeon of Dajbabe. Venerable Justin will be venerate on June 1st/14th, and Venerable Symeon on March 19th/April 1st.

Extraordinary Communique of the Holy Assembly of Bishops
of the Serbian Orthodox Church
 

The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, at its regular session at the Patriarchate in Belgrade, expresses its deep concern and protest against the latest threat to freedom and basic human rights of the Serbian people and other non-Albanian population in Kosovo and Metohija, expressed through illegal and uncivilized termination of the mobile and fixed telephony in the central parts of Kosovo and other parts of the southern Serbian province. The Albanian police, namely, destroyed the telephone relays in the Serbian villages and areas inhabited by Serbs and their neighbors non-Albanians. We are also deeply worried about the endangering lifes and hindering the free movement and work of Serb the returnees in villages, such as Zac near Kline and other places in Metohija where displaced Serbs return to their centuries-old homes and they gather again around their sanctuaries.

The Holy Assembly appeals to the authorities of the Republic of Serbia the international community present in Kosovo and Metohija, governments of the civilized Europe and America, as well as the United Nations of the world, to stop this and any other violence against the already suffering and innocent people in the living area of the Balkans and Europe, the cradle of civilization and the source of the spiritual and material culture of humanity.

Extraordinary communique of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church

On its afternoon session of April 29 of this year, the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church unanimously adopted recommendations of the competent diocesan bishops and entered into dyptichs of the saints of the Orthodox Church names of the blessed repose of archimandrite Justin Popovic, geront of the monastery Celije near Valjevo (1894-1979), from now Venerable Justin of Celije, and Simeon Popovic , prior of the monastery Dajbabe near Podgorica (1854-1941), from now Venerable Simeon of Dajbabe.

Liturgical memory of Venerable Justin will be celebrated on June 1, according to the Julian calendar (June 14, according to the Gregorian calendar), a memory of Venerable Simeon will be celebrated on March 19 according to the Julian calendar (April 1, after the Gregorian calendar).

The formal celebration of the newly canonized saints will be performed at the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy on the following Sunday, May 2, at the St Sava Cathedral in Vrachar, commencing at 9am.

Venerable and God-bearing Our Fathers Justin and Simeon, pray God for us!

Bishop Irinej of Bachka,
spokesman of the Holy Assembly of Bishop