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A Statement from George Alexander, Secretary of Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE (Pan-Orthodox Christain Society) on the demise of His Holiness Irinej, the Patriarch of Serbia. Global: “The heavenly abode of His Holiness Irinej, the Patriarch of Serbia is an enormous loss to the Orthodox Christian world” stated George Alexander, Secretary of Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE, Pan-Orthodox Christian Society. The late Patriarch was a soft-spoken and gentle human being. He provided adequate support to the Serbs in the Diaspora apart from catering to issues in the country. He also fostered a robust relationship between the Church and the State. Patriarch Irinej was gravely...

The traditionally conservative Serbian Orthodox Church will back the country's bid to join the European Union, but remains opposed to the independence of Kosovo, the church's new leader said on Thursday. The Orthodox Church is an important moral force in Serbian society and politicians often seek its support, including on issues such as the EU accession bid. Irinej, 80, was elected last week as patriarch of the church with an estimated 11 million people of Orthodox background in Serbia, neighboring countries, the United States, Australia and Western Europe. "We hope that Europe will respect our identity, our cultural heritage, our...