RESOLUTIONS OF THE 2025 DIOCESAN ASSEMBLY

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT!

We, the clergy, monastics, and elected representatives of the people of God,

members of the Diocesan Assembly of the Eastern American Diocese

of the Serbian Orthodox Church,

have gathered around our Diocesan Hierarch, Kyr Irinej,

Bishop of Washington – New York and Eastern America,

at the Church of Saint Stephen, the Archdeacon and Protomartyr

in the God-protected City of Lackawanna, New York,

on February 28th and March 1st in the Year of Our Lord 2025,

to support our Bishop in God’s work and to assist him

in the God-pleasing mission of the Serbian Orthodox Church

and our God-protected Diocese of Eastern America.

As the nature of the Church is a “calling together” and our salvation relies on our community, that is common union with one another as a family in Christ, we dedicate this Assembly to the divinely inspired words of the Holy Apostle:

And let us consider how we may spur one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together … but encouraging one another — and all the more, as you see the Day approaching (Heb. 10:24-25).

Furthermore, we dedicate this Assembly to the 1,700th Anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council convoked in Nicaea in 325 A.D., a singular event in the history of our Holy Orthodox Church, which channels the truth and universality of the Orthodox faith to this day. 

The Holy Spirit has gathered us once again this year in the community of the fullness of God’s Church, as one Diocesan family around our Bishop and Spiritual Father, Kyr Irinej, mindful of the fact that where two or three gather in Christ’s Name, He will be present, as He promised. Therefore, we offer hymns of praise and thanksgiving, fully cognizant that our most merciful God has blessed us abundantly and continues to provide for all our needs.  

In filial love, we greet the fullness of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the person of His Holiness, the Archbishop of Peć, Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovci, and Serbian Patriarch Kyr Porfirije, together with the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops and all members of the Holy Assembly of Bishops. We especially note the Hierarchs of the Dioceses of the Serbian Orthodox Church serving in the American Continent. May God grant them many blessed years!

From this gathering, we greet Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine. We especially offer our prayerful best regards for the health and recovery of Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Katherine.  Furthermore, we greet here the entire Karageorgevich Dynasty. May God grant them many blessed years!

We continue to offer our deep gratitude to God for granting us a loving father and a true shepherd to the Eastern American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church, in the person of our Bishop Irinej. We are grateful for his tireless efforts in guiding our God-protected Diocese of Eastern America, and in safeguarding our heritage and the survival of our brethren in all Serbian lands, particularly in Kosovo and Metohija.  May God grant him many years at the helm of our God-protected Eastern American Diocese!

In recognition of her tireless work on behalf of the Serbian people, we greet Congresswoman Claudia Tenney of New York’s 24th District, Co-Chair of the Serbian Congressional Caucus. She has our deepest gratitude. May God grant her many years!

Looking to our objectives for the coming year, in addition to the 1,700th Anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council, this year we also celebrate the 850th Anniversary of the birth of our father and enlightener Saint Sava, who was born in AD 1175. May he intercede for us, his children, before the all-merciful God!

With great joy, this year we also mark the 80th Anniversary of the founding of the Federation of Circles of Serbian Sisters. With profound gratitude we recognize their  immeasurable contribution to the life and mission of the Serbian Orthodox Church on this continent and pray that God will grant them strength to continue their God-pleasing work. May God grant them many years!

Heeding His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije’s summons for patience and wisdom in public life, “By all means, let us build bridges of understanding, love, and peace, even though we know well that bridge builders are often stoned from both sides,” we offer our prayers for the safety and well-being of all our people in Serbia. 

In the same manner, we offer our continued prayers for peace and stability in Kosovo and Metohija; for the cessation of the persecution of Christians throughout the world; that the hostilities in the war between Russia and Ukraine come to an end; and that peace and resolution to the conflict in the Middle East be achieved. 

We offer words of gratitude to our Bishop and Father who has spent much time in pastoral visitations and liturgical celebrations within the Eastern American Diocese. We are also grateful to him for worthily representing our holy Serbian Church before our Orthodox brethren from other jurisdictions and at various institutions. We especially applaud his work and engagement with our Church camps, recognizing that an investment of effort in educating our youth ensures the continuous existence of our Holy Church and our people on this continent. We observe with unreserved admiration his efforts in visiting even the remotest parts of our Diocese and his wide spectrum of representational work promoting Pan-Orthodox, inter-Christian, interfaith, educational, and governmental relations. We recognize his overall archpastoral work as a credit to the Serbian Orthodox Church everywhere.

We are especially pleased to receive the reports from our Federation of Circles of Serbian Sisters and Camp Directors that the long-established Saint Sava Youth Summer Camp in Shadeland, Pennsylvania continues to grow and successfully serve our children. Moreover, we offer gratitude to God that the Saint Spyridon Winter Camp of the Miami Deanery, held this past year in Greensboro, North Carolina, has become the epitome of a family camp.

We are also pleased to receive the report from the Diocesan Education Commission that our Religious Education program (Church School) finally has an approved curriculum, provided by Orthodox Journeys, to be implemented in all parishes of the Diocese and augmented with custom materials prepared by our Diocesan Education Commission Coordinator.

We also note the replacement of the Uniform Rules and Regulations for Parishes and Church-School Congregations of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America with the soon-to-be published Regulations for Parishes, Church Congregations/Church-School Congregations and Monasteries of the Eastern American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church, together with the Statute of the Eastern American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church, which has replaced the former Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America.

We offer our sincerest congratulations to all parishes and organizations that marked milestones in the past year, notably:  St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Hermitage, Pennsylvania, which celebrated its 100th anniversary on May 6 and 11, 2024; the Holy King Milutin Serbian Orthodox Church in Jacksonville, Florida, which blessed its foundation stone on August 31, 2024; The Nativity of the Theotokos Circle of Serbian Sisters in Greensboro, North Carolina, which celebrated its 20th Anniversary on September 22, 2024; St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church Choir in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, which celebrated its 95th Anniversary on October 5 and 6, 2024; St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Lorain, Ohio, which celebrated its 100th Anniversary on October 12 and 13, 2024; St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Carmichaels, Pennsylvania, which celebrated its 70th Anniversary on November 2, 2024; St. Demetrius Serbian Orthodox Church in Fairlawn, Ohio, which celebrated its Patronal Feast (Slava) and Blessing of Frescoes on November 10, 2024; St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Midland, Pennsylvania, which celebrated its Patronal Feast (Slava) and 75th Anniversary of the establishment on November 16, 2024; and St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Canton, Ohio, which celebrated its 75th Anniversary on November 23, 2024.

With faith in Christ and in hope of the Resurrection to eternal life, albeit with profound sadness, we remember the repose of Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Vladimir Demshuk, and Protopresbyter Toma Popovic, both of whom faithfully served numerous parishes in our Diocese; Milos Papich, philanthropist, Treasurer of the Diocesan New Marcha Fundraising Committee, and a founding member of the Kosovo Men’s Choir; Dr. Stevan (Rick) Zivic, veteran Director of the Kosovo Men’s Choir and parish choirs; and David Vuich Distinguished Serbian American Aerospace Engineer, one of the “Serbo 7,” a group of Serbian scientists who played a vital role in developing the Apollo Space Program; as well as all those that have entered into blessed repose since our last Assembly. May God grant them all eternal memory!

Being committed to walk and never stray from the Way of Saint Sava – Svetosavlje –  and our holy ancestors, and being keenly aware of our sacred duties and responsibilities, from this sacred place and gathering of love, we now issue the following:

RESOLUTIONS

WHEREAS we dedicate this Assembly to the 1700th Anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea in 325 A.D., a foundational event with contemporary implications supporting the unity and oneness of mind that are hallmarks of the Church to this day;

WHEREAS for the coming year, we also celebrate with great pride and humility 850 years since the Birth of Saint Sava in 1175, his family and all he accomplished in his love for the Orthodox Church and his beloved Serbian people;

WHEREAS we recall the year 2025 as the 80th Anniversary of the Founding of the Federation of Circles of Serbian Sisters; 

WHEREAS we heed His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije’s call for patience and wisdom in public life, as well as heeding prayers of our own Bishop Irinej for the safety and well-being of our brethren in Serbia;

WHEREAS  we offer continued prayers for peace and stability in Kosovo and Metohija; for the cessation of persecution of Christians throughout the world; that the hostilities in the war between Russia and Ukraine come to an end; and that peace and resolution to the conflict in the Middle East be achieved; 

WHEREAS His Grace Bishop Irinej has spent much time in pastoral visitations and liturgical celebrations within our Diocese, as well as with other Orthodox hierarchs, engaging with youth, visiting them at Church camps, promoting Pan-Orthodox, inter-Christian, interfaith, educational, and governmental relations;

WHEREAS we heard reports of our Diocesan Federation of Circles of Serbian Sisters and Shadeland Camp Directors, and our Saint Spyridon Winter Camp, sponsored by the Miami Deanery, both of which promote successful Christian growth and service to our children and their families;

WHEREAS we received with joy the Diocesan Education Commission’s report of the approved curriculum, to be implemented in all parishes of the Diocese;

WHEREAS this past year, we celebrated nine milestone parish anniversaries and celebrations;

THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED that the Diocesan Assembly of the Eastern American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church: 

1. Expresses its profound respect and appreciation to our Diocesan Hierarch, His Grace Bishop Kyr Irinej, who wisely leads all Diocesan bodies and ministries in their tireless work and invaluable contributions to our Diocese;

1. Continues to strongly support the efforts of the Serbian Orthodox Church, in particular the Diocese of Raška-Prizren, in safeguarding and protecting the Serbian Orthodox people and all Christians around the world; 

1. Firmly and resolutely supports our Diocesan Bishop Irinej in his efforts to intercede for the Serbian Orthodox people, and supports the desire of the faithful to continue the education of our youth, whether at the level of Christian Education, in their homes, in our churches, or in our Serbian Orthodox youth camps.

1. Enthusiastically responds to the continuous call of our Holy Church and our Diocesan Hierarch for help, voicing unanimous support for all suffering and displaced persons everywhere, while especially appealing for peace in Ukraine, Russia, the Middle East, and throughout the world; and

1. Sincerely thanks those who labor on behalf of our Diocese, including all Administrative bodies and personnel of the Eastern American Diocese; together with the Federation of Circles of Serbian Sisters; the Shadeland Management Committee; the Christian Education Commission for the newly adopted educational curriculum; and the hosts of this gathering, the Parish Family at St. Stephen Serbian Orthodox Church in Lackawanna, New York for sponsoring the 2025 Diocesan Assembly.

Proclaimed in the God-protected City of LACKAWANNA on this 1st Day of the Month of March in the Year of our Lord 2025.

AMEN!