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Svetom Arhijerejskom Sinodu Srpske Pravoslavne Crkve, Posredstvom Episkopskog saveta Srpske Pravoslavne Crkve u SAD i Kanadi CŠO 4/08; 10. april 2008.g.; Nijagarini Vodopadi, Kanada

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U ime Upravnog odbora, članova i parohijana Srpske Pravoslavne Crkve  Sv. Georgija na Nijagarinim Vodopadima, izlažemo Svetom Sinodu Srpske Pravoslavne Crkve, preko Episkopskog saveta SPC u SAD i Kanadi, kao osnovu za

tužbu protiv

NJegovog preosveštenstva g. Georgija,  Episkopa Srpske Pravoslavne Eparhije kanadske,

zbog kršenja i crkvenog i kanonskog zakona, a povodom zabrane obavljanja svete liturgije u crkvi Sv. Georgija na Nijagarinim Vodopadima, i učešća u svetim tajnama i obredima velikom broju neimenovanih članova. Time je NJegovo preosveštenstvo, episkop Georgije prekršio 4. Kanon 7. Vaseljenskog sabora kao i sledeće članove Krivičnih pravila Srpske pravoslavne crkve, članove 10, 15, 18 i 67. Tim činom Njegovo preosveštenstvo, episkop Georgije prekršio je i svoju Zakletvu episkopatu SPC, koju je dao na Njegovoj hirotoniji u čin episkopa SPC.

Pošto ova izjava pod zakletvom, kao i bilo koja druga optužba protiv Njegovog preosveštenstva Georgija obuhvata veoma ozbiljnu optužbu da je prekršio Kanone svetih Vaseljenskih sabora, tvrdimo da je ovaj predmet izvan jurisdikcije i nadležnosti Episkopskog saveta SPC u SAD i Kanadi, u skladu sa članom 70.35(b) Ustava Srpske Pravoslavne Crkve (Beograd 1957.g.). Istovremeno, imajući u vidu proceduralne zahteve, izlažemo Svetom Sinodu SPC preko kancelarije Episkopskog saveta SPC u SAD i Kanadi, a u skladu sa odredbama člana 13(a) i (k) Ustava SPC u SAD i Kanadi (1982.g.) i člana 14.7 Ustava Srpske Pravoslavne Crkve u Severnoj i Južnoj Americi (2008.g.).

OBRAZLOŽENJE

Njegovo Preosveštenstvo, episkop Georgije, kao episkop Srpske Pravoslavne Eparhije u Kanadi, tokom dužeg administrativnog neslagaNja sa Upravnim odborom Srpske Pravoslavne Crkve Sv. Georgija na Nijagarinim Vodopadima, izdao je zvaničan akt Eparhije kojim je zabranio obavljaNje svete liturgije u crkvi Sv. Georgija na Nijagarinim Vodopadima, i zabranio je obavljaNje svetih tajni kršteNja i pričešća velikom broju neimenovanih članova crkve u Nijagari. Akt Eparhije E.br. 159 (dokum. 1 u prilogu) bio je donet 5. aprila 2006. a odmah 9. aprila ga je u crkvi Sv. Georgija pročitao sveštenik Dejan Obradović, tačno dve nedelje pre Uskrsa 2006.g. Ovaj akt je donet nakon optužnica podignutih od strane Eparhijskog crkvenog suda protiv šest (6) bivših poverenika i članova Upravnog odbora SPC Sv. Georgija na Nijagarinim Vodopadima Crkveni sud Br. 4-9 (27. mart 2006.g.) (dokum. 2 u prilogu). Dok je putem pismenih žalbi od 28. maja 2006.g. (dokum. 3 u prilogu) Crkvenom sudu Eparhije kanadske, u toku bila odbrana protiv tih optužbi, evidentan slučaj je da je taj akt Eparhije E.br. 159 (5. april 2006.g.) bio direktno u vezi sa optužnicama Crkvenog suda Crkeni sud br. 4-9(27. mart 2006.g.). Ukratko, akt Eparhije E.br. 159 (5. april 2006.g.): (1) bio je donet na bazi pretpostavNjene krivice opisane u argumentima dokumenta Crkveni sud Br. 4-9 (27. mart 2006.g.), (2) pomenuti akt nema osnovu u navedenim Kanonima , (3) izrekao je crkvenu kaznu velikom broju neimenovanih članova CŠO crkve na Nijagarinim Vodopadima.

Kao rezultat našeg prigovora na sastav Crkvenog suda Eparhije kanadske, ceo sudski predmet je prosle\en Velikom crkvenom sudu, što je vidljivo iz dokumenta ECS br.19 (28. juli 2006.g.) (dokum.4 u prilogu). Dana 20. maja 2007.g. Veliki crkveni sud u Beogradu prosledio je predmet Crkvenom sudu Eparhije istočnoameričke, kao nezavisnom, prvostepenom sudu. Taj Sud je održao raspravu 10. jula 2007.g. i doneo presudu CS br.7 (8. septembar 2007.g.) i uputio je Velikom crkvenom sudu. Dana 28. decembra 2007 godine. Veliki crkveni sud u Beogradu izdao je Akt VCS br.29 (dokum. 5 u prilogu) kojim se potvrđuje presuda Crkvenog suda Eparhije istočnoameričke CS br.7 (8. septembar 2007.g.), čija odluka glasi:

• (1) Izrečene kazne ekskomunikacije kako su navedene u Aktu CS br. 4-9 (27. mart 2006.g.) Crkvenog suda Eparhije kanadske poništavaju se.
• (2) NJegovom preosveštenstvu, episkopu Georgiju, odmah po prijemu Akta VCS br.29 daje se nalog da ukloni prepreke kojima je zabraNjeno služeNje svete liturgije, u hramu Sv. Georgija na Nijagarinim Vodopadima i
• (3) Daje se uputstvo CŠO na Nijagarinim Vodopadima da uskladi svoju
  registraciju i statut prema Ustavu Srpske Pravoslavne Crkve  za SAD i Kanadu.

Dopustite nam da budemo sasvim jasni i precizni što se tiče tumačeNja akta VCS Br. 29 (28. decembar 2007.g.). Odluka je pod (1) doneta je protiv argumenata opisanih u CS br. 4-9 (27. mart 2006.g.)(dokum. 3 u prilogu) a podržava navode odbrane što se vidi iz priloženog dokumenta br. 3, a koja se u suštini odnosi na registraciju i status imovine CŠO u Nijagari; pod (2) se nalaže uklaNjaNje prepreke kojom se zabraNjuje liturgijska služba u hramu Sv. Georgija na Nijagarinim Vodopadima – to jest, akt Eparhije kanadske E. br. 159; i (3) pošto je odbrana optuženih uvažena i Optužnica odbijena, postoji eksplicitno priznaNje da je status i registracija CŠO u Nijagari u skladu sa Ustavom SPC u SAD i Kanadi (1982.g.). Ovo je jasno prikazano u Povelji o inkorporisaNju za CŠO u Nijagari (dokum. 6 u prilogu) u kojoj su precizno navedeni detalji registracije, a koja je u potpunosti ista kao i Povelja o inkorporisanju CŠO Sv. Save u Torontu, inkorporisanoj 20. maja 1983.g. (dokum.7 u prilogu).

Do ovog trenutka, episkop Georgije nije potvrdio prijem akta VCS br. 29 od 28. decembra 2007.g. čak je doveo u pitaNje legitimnost Presude VCS u zvaničnoj publikaciji Eparhije kanadske Istočniku (28. januar 2008.g.) (dokum. 8 u prilogu), u kojoj insinuira da je dokumenat Presuda VCS falsifikat. OdbijaNje Episkopa Georgija da prizna verodostojnost akta VCS br.29 od 28. decembra 2007.g. potvrđuje se od Eparhije kanadske putem SaopšteNja za javnost -31. mart 2008.g. (dokum. 9 u prilogu). Na kraju, episkop Georgije nije postupio po nalogu koji mu je dat presudom Velikog crkvenog suda koja se odnosi na Njegovu obavezu definisanu u Ustavu Srpske Pravoslavne Crkve (1957.g.) i na Njegovu Zakletvu datu na hirotonisaNju.

Akt Eparhije E.br. 159 episkop Georgije je jednostrano propisao 5. aprila 2006.g., približno dve nedelje nakon što je počeo crkveno-sudski proces CS br. 4-9 (27. mart 2006.g.). Taj akt, u stvari, nameće crkvenu kaznu velikom broju neimenovanih članova CŠO-e na Nijagarinim Vodopadima. Takva crkvena kazna izrečena je na osnovu predpostavljene krivice optuženih u CS br.4-9 (27. mart 2006.g), i u vezi sa optužbama koje su bile predmet crkveno-sudskog procesa. Pošto u presudi koju je doneo Crkveni sud Eparhije istočnoameričke i koja je potvrđena od strane Velikog crkvenog suda u Beogradu, stoji da optužbe moraju biti poništene, takva predpostavljena krivica je ništavna pa je prema tome i akt E.br. 159 takođe ništavan.

Šta više, episkop Georgije je akt eparhije E.br. 159 jednostrano nametnuo bez ikakvog redovnog procesa ili crkveno-sudske rasprave, kao što je to predviđeno članom 67 Krivičnih Pravila Srpske Pravoslavne Crkve koji glasi: „Niko ne može biti kažnjen nikakvom crkvenom kaznom bez prethodne sudske rasprave.“ Ovo flagrantno kršenje Krivičnih pravila SPC je još jedna fatalna greška u vezi sa aktom Eparhije E.br. 159.

Još više je uznemiravajuća činjenica da je akt Eparhije E.br. 159 u direktnoj suprotnosti sa Kanonskim zakonom. Specifično je, kad je u pitanju zabrana liturgijske službe i bogoslužeNja u hramu CŠO-e na Nijagarinim Vodopadima, on je u direktnoj suprotnosti sa 4. Kanonom 7. Vaseljenskog sabora. Kao što u Kanonu piše:

„Ako … se ustanovi da je neko (episkop) zbog zahtevanja zlata ili nekog drugog poklona, ili zbog ličnog osećaNja, suspendovao iz svešteničke službe, ili čak ekskomunicirao nekog od sveštenika pod Njegovom jurisdikcijom, ili je zatvorio neki časni hram, tako da se u Njemu ne može da obavlja služba Božja, bezosećajno izlivajući svoje ludilo čak i na stvari, što pokazuje da nema razumevaNje, on će sam biti podvgnut istoj kazni koju je odredio drugima, i Njegove nevolje će se Njemu sručiti na glavu, zbog nepoštovaNja Božjih zapovesti i pouka apostolskih.“

Komentar na 4. Kanon ukazuje: „ Ako neko …..bude okrivljen za sprečavaNje bilo kog od sveštenika koji su pod Njim da vrši svetu službu, ili da je zatvorio neki časni hram tako da u Njemu ne može da se obavlja služba Božja, potpašće pod lež talionis“ (Stari epitom 4. Kanona). Balsamon potvrđuje ovo rekavši da: …“Episkop koji iz bilo kog razloga, opravdanog ili neopravdanog, zatvori hram treba da bude kažNjen“...(Nikejski i post-nikejski oci, serija 2, tom 14).

Dopustite nam da budemo jasni i precizni u iznošenju sledećeg:

1. Eparhijski Akt E.br. 159 je u direktnoj suprotnosti sa 4. Kanonom 7. Vaseljenskog sabora.

2 . Pošto je episkop Georgije počinio ozbiljan kanonski prekršaj, Njegovo odbijaNje važnosti i legitimnosti akta VCS br.29 od 28. decembra 2007.g. jeste odricaNje od Kanonskih pravila Crkve i predstavlja direktno kršeNje člana 15 Krivičnih pravila za Crkveni sud SPC.

3. Šta više, odbijaNje episkopa Georgija da izvrši nalog koji mu je dat aktom VCS br.29 od 28. decembra 2007.g. je svesno napuštaNje Crkve sa  odbijaNjem da se povinuje zahtevu da se vrati u direktnoj je suprotnosti sa članom 18 Krivičnih pravila za Crkveni sud SPC .

4. Najzad, episkop Georgije je prekršio svoju Zakletvu datu na hirotoniji kao što je vidljivo iz sledećeg teksta zakletve: „Primam i prihvatam svetih Sedam Vaseljenskih Sabora i sve Pomesne Sabore koje Sveti Oci prihvatiše i potvrdiše, a koji su svi sabrani radi očuvaNja pravoslavnih dogmata Crkve…Obećavam da, bez krajNje nužde i teške krivice, neću nikoga, bilo pojedinca bilo zajednicu, od Crkvenih tajni i zajedništva u Hristu odlučivati, niti proklinjati, nego većma u Duhu Svetom savetom i na put pokajaNja i spaseNja obraćati.“ Postupci  episkopa Georgija su u direktnoj suprotnosti sa članom 10 Krivičnih  pravila SPC za Crkveni sud.

Opsežni dokazi za ovu tužbu nalaze se u priloženim dokumentima kao što je gore navedeno (dokumenti u prilogu 1-9). Glavni dokument je Eparhijski Akt E.br. 159. Iako su potkrepljujući dokumenti već opisani, dodajemo i E.br. 426 od 18. septembra 2006.g. (dokum. 10 u prilogu) koji dodatno potvđuje gore navedene optužbe.

Kazne za ove prekršaje i povrede Kanona i Crkvenog zakona su jasne i precizne. Kao što je ukazano u tekstu i komentaru samog 4. Kanona 7. Vaseljenskog sabora, kazna ovog Kanona je anatema. Kao što je naznačeno u Krivičnim pravilima SPC za Crkveni sud, kazna za prekršaje iz ~lanova 10, 15 i 18, mora da bude raščiNjavaNje i udaljavaNje iz službe u Srpskoj Pravoslavnoj Crkvi.

S obzirom na ovu jasnoću u pogledu kazne u odgovoru na dokaze koji su gore navedeni mi nemamo drugi izbor osim da zahtevamo raščinjavanje episkopa Georgija i Njegovo udaljavanje iz službe u Srpskoj Pravoslavnoj Crkvi. Postavljamo ovaj zahtev veoma nerado i teška srca, ali smo primorani na to u skladu sa Kanonom i sa Crkvenim zakonom.

Na kraju mi smo izjavili u najjasnijem mogućem obliku da će bilo kakvo odlagaNje odgovora Svetog Arhijerejskog Sinoda SPC na ove optužbe samo dovesti do javne potvrde da Sveti Sinod podržava ove nekanonske aktivnosti episkopa Georgija.

Molimo vas da nas obavestite o bilo kakvim troškovima Suda ili novčanim obavezama koje smo dužni da ispunimo po članu 61 Krivičnih pravila Crkvenog suda SPC.

S poštovanjem

Dušan Kolundzić

Predsednik CŠO Sv.Đorđa i Arhangela Mihaila
6085 Montrose Road
Niagara Falls, Ontario L2H 1L4
Canada

Kopije dostavljene:

– Sveti Arhijerejski Sabor SPC
– članovima Svetog Arhijerejskog Sinoda SPC
– članovima Episkopskog saveta SPC u SAD i Kanadi
– Predsednicima CŠO Srpske pravoslavne Eparhije kanadske
– Predsednicima CŠO Mitropolije novogračaničke u Kanadi

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TUŽBA NA ENGLESKOM JEZIKU

CŠO Br. 4/08; 10 April 2008
Nijagarini vodopadi, Kanada

To the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church
c/o the Episcopal Council of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the U.S.A. & Canada

On behalf of the Church Board Executive, members and parishioners of the Saint George Serbian Orthodox Church in Niagara Falls, we submit this deposition to the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church, through the Episcopal Council of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the United States of America & Canada as the basis for an indictment against:

His Grace Bishop Georgije of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada

for the violation of both Ecclesiastical and Canon Law, by suspending both the practice of holy liturgy within the Church of St. George (Niagara Falls) and the participation in the holy mysteries and sacraments to the vast “un-named” majority of its church members. As such, His Grace Bishop Georgije has transgressed Canon 4 of the 7th Ecumenical Council, along with the following Articles from the Penal Code for the Ecclesiastical Court of the Serbian Orthodox Church (Krivi`na Pravila Srpske Pravoslavne Crkve) – Articles 10, 15, 18 & 67. In so doing, His Grace Bishop Georgije has violated his oath of consecration to the Episcopate of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

As this deposition, along with any indictment against His Grace Bishop Georgije, involves the very serious charge of transgressing the Canons of the Holy Ecumenical Councils, we submit that the subject matter lies outside the jurisdiction and competency of the Episcopal Council of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the United States of America & Canada, as per Article 70.35(b) of the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church (Belgrade 1957) [USTAV Srpske Pravoslavne Crkve, Beograd 1957]. At the same time, given procedural requirements, we forward this deposition to the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church through the offices of the Episcopal Council of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the United States of America & Canada as required by Article 13 (a) & (k) of the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the United States of America & Canada (1982), and Article 14.7 of the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North & South America (2008).

EXPLANATION

In his capacity as Bishop of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada, and following a protracted administrative disagreement with the Executive Board of the St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Niagara Falls, His Grace Bishop Georgije did issue a formal Diocesan Act suspending liturgical practice within the Church of St. George in Niagara Falls, as well as the suspension of sacraments and Holy Mysteries to the vast majority of “un-named” Church members in Niagara. Diocesan Act E. Br. 159 [Doc-1 attached], was issued on 5 April 2006 and read in the Church of St. George on 9 April 2006 by Father Dejan Obradovich, exactly two weeks prior to Holy Pascha 2006. This Act was issued subsequent to Ecclesiastical Court Indictments levelled against six (6) former Trustees and Executive Board members of the St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Niagara Falls in Crkveni Sud Br. 4-9, (27 Mart 2006) [Doc-2 attached]. While these indictments were defended through written submission to the Diocesan Ecclesiastical Court of Canada on 28 May 2006 [Doc-3 attached], it is clearly the case that Diocesan Act E. Br. 159 (5 April 2006) is directly related to the Ecclesiastical Court indictments Crkveni Sud Br. 4-9, (27 Mart 2006). In short, Diocesan Act E. Br. 159 (5 April 2006) was (i) issued on the basis of an assumption of guilt outlined in the arguments in Crkveni Sud Br. 4-9, (27 Mart 2006), (ii) has no foundation based on the specific Canons identified in the Act itself, and (iii) imposes an Ecclesiastical penalty on the vast majority of “un-named” members of the C{O in Niagara Falls.

As the result of a challenge to the composition of the Diocesan Ecclesiastical Court of Canada, the entire file was transferred to the Supreme Ecclesiastical Court as indicated by CS Br. 19 (20 Jula 2006) [Doc-4 attached]. On 20 May 2007 the Supreme Ecclesiastical Court in Belgrade transferred the file to the Ecclesiastical Court of the Eastern American Diocese, as an independent court of the first degree. This Court held a listening session on 10 July 2007, and issued judgement CS Br.7 (8 Septembar 2007), which was forwarded to the Supreme Ecclesiastical Court in Belgrade. On 28 December 2007, the Supreme Ecclesiastical Court in Belgrade issued VCS Br.29/28 Decembar 2007 [Doc-5 attached] which ratifies the judgement of the Ecclesiastical Court of the Eastern American Diocese, CS Br.7 (8 Septembar 2007), whose decision was issued as follows: (i) the punishments of excommunication outlined in CS Br.4-9, (23 Mart 2006), by the Ecclesiastical Court of the Diocese of Canada, are quashed; (ii) His Grace Bishop Georgije, immediately upon receipt of VCS Br.29, is ordered to remove the obstacle that suspends Liturgical practice in the Church of St. George in Niagara Falls; and (iii) instructs the C{O Niagara Falls to ensure that its registration and status is in accordance with the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church of the United States & Canada.

Let us be very clear and precise as to the meaning of VCS Br.29/28 Decembar 2007. The decision (i) rules against the arguments outlined in Crkveni Sud Br. 4-9, (27 Mart 2006) and in support of the defence as outlined in Doc-3 attached, at the core of which is the status and registration of the property of the C{O in Niagara; (ii) orders the removal of the obstacle that suspends Liturgical practice in the Church of St. George in Niagara – that is Diocesan Act E. Br. 159; and (iii) since the defence is upheld and indictments overturned, there is an explicit acknowledgement that the status and registration of the C{O in Niagara is in accordance with the Constitution of the SOC in USA & Canada (1982). This is clearly identified in the Letters Patent for the C{O Niagara [Doc-6 attached] which precisely specifies the nature of the registration, and is exactly the same as the C{O Toronto [Doc-7 attached].

To date Bishop Georgije does not acknowledge receipt of VCS Br.29/28 Decembar 2007. He has even questioned the legitimacy of the judgement in Isto`nik – Za Javnost (28 Februar 2008) [Doc-8 attached], insinuating that the document is a forgery. Bishop Georgije’s refusal to acknowledge the validity of VCS Br.29/28 Decembar 2007 is confirmed by the Diocese of Canada’s Сaop[tewe Za Javnost – 31 Mart 2008 [Doc-9 attached]. Finally, Bishop Georgije has not acted on the specific order that has been imputed to him by the judgement of the Supreme Ecclesiastical Court as is his obligation as specified in the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church (Belgrade 1957) [USTAV Srpske Pravoslavne Crkve, Beograd 1957], and his Oath of Consecration.

Diocesan Act E. Br. 159 was unilaterally enacted by Bishop Georgije on 5 April 2006, approximately two weeks after he initiated Ecclesiastical proceedings commenced in CS Br.4-9, (27 Mart 2006). The Act, in effect, imposes an Ecclesiastical penalty upon the vast majority of “un-named” members of the C{O Niagara Falls. Such Ecclesiastical penalty is based upon an assumption of guilt on the part of the defendants in CS Br.4-9, (27 Mart 2006), with respect to the charges that were the subject matter of the Ecclesiastical proceeding. Since the verdict rendered by the Ecclesiastical Court of the Eastern American Diocese, confirmed by the Supreme Ecclesiastical Court (Belgrade), has found that the charges are to be quashed, such an assumption of guilt is flawed and therefore, Diocesan Act E. Br. 159 is flawed.

Furthermore, Diocesan Act E. Br. 159 was unilaterally imposed by Bishop Georgije without any form of due process or Ecclesiastical hearing as is required by Article 67 of the Penal Code for the Ecclesiastical Court of the Serbian Orthodox Church (Krivi`na Pravila Srpske Pravoslavne Crkve), which reads: “No one can be punished by any Church punishment without prior hearing.” This flagrant breach of the requirements of the Penal Code for the Ecclesiastical Court of the Serbian Orthodox Church (Krivi`na Pravila Srpske Pravoslavne Crkve) is a further fatal flaw with respect to Diocesan Act E. Br. 159.

Even more troubling is the fact that Diocesan Act E. Br. 159 is in direct contravention of Canon Law. Specifically, the suspension of liturgical service and worship within the Church of the C{O Niagara Falls directly contravenes the 4th Canon of the 7th Ecumenical Council. As the Canon states:

“If … any [Bishop] is found, who for the sake of exacting gold or any other gift, or who from personal feeling, has suspended from the ministry, or even excommunicated, any of the clergy subject to his jurisdiction, or who has closed any of the venerable temples, so that the service of God may not be celebrated in it, pouring out his madness even upon things insensible, and thus showing himself to be without understanding, he shall be subjected to the same punishment he devised for others, and his trouble shall return on his own head, as a transgressor of God’s commandment and of the apostolic precepts.”

Commentary on the 4th Canon are pointed – „if anyone……shall be found to have prevented any one of the clergy who are subject to him, from the celebration of the holy offices, or shall have shut up a venerable temple so that the sacred worship of God could not be performed in it, he shall be subject to the lex talionis“ (Ancient Epitome of Canon IV). Balsamon confirms this by stating that: „..a Bishop who for any reason, whether just or unjust, shuts up a temple, should be punished..“ (Nicene & Post-Nicene Fathers, Series II, Vol.XIV).

Let us be very clear and precise in stating the following:

1. Diocesan Act E. Br. 159 is in direct contravention of the 4th Canon of the 7th Ecumenical Council.

2. Given that this is a serious “canonical” infraction by Bishop Georgije, his rejection of the validity and legitimacy of VCS Br.29/28 Decembar 2007, is a disavowal of the Church’s Canonical Regulations and is in direct contravention of Article 15 of the Penal Code for the Ecclesiastical Court of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

3. Furthermore, Bishop Georgije’s refusal to fulfill the order imputed to him by VCS Br.29/28 Decembar 2007, is a will full desertion of a Church along with a rejection to comply with a request to return and is in direct contravention of Article 18 of the Penal Code for the Ecclesiastical Court of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

4. Finally, Bishop Georgije has violated his Oath of Consecration as highlighted by the following text of the oath: “I accept and hold true the Holy Seven Ecumenical Councils and all the minor Councils which the Holy Fathers have accepted and confirmed, that have been chosen in order to protect the true Orthodox dogma of the Church…….I promise that I will not, without unavoidable need and heavy transgression, exclude from church sacraments and unity in Christ, neither a single person nor an entire community, nor will I anathematize but instead I will advise in accordance with the Holy Spirit and redirect them on the road of repentance and salvation.” As such Bishop Georgije’s actions are in direct contravention of Article 10 of the Penal Code for the Ecclesiastical Court of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

The extensive evidence for these charges is comprised within the attached documents as indicated above [Docs1-9 attached]. The primary document is Diocesan Act E. Br. 159. While the supporting documentation has already been outlined, we add E. Br. 426/18 septembra 2006 [Doc-10 attached], which further confirms the charges outlined above.

Punishments for these transgressions and violations of Canon and Ecclesiastical law are clear and precise. As indicated within the text and commentary of the 4th Canon of the 7th Ecumenical Council itself, the punishment for transgressing this Canon is anathema. As indicated within the Penal Code for the Ecclesiastical Court of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the punishment for transgressing Articles 10, 15 & 18 is a defrocking from service within the Orthodox Church.

Given this clarity in regards to the punishment in response to the evidence presented above, we have no option but to demand that Bishop Georgije be defrocked from service within the Serbian Orthodox Church. We make this demand with great resistance and the heaviest of hearts, but are compelled to do so in accordance with both Canon and Ecclesiastical Law.

Finally, we state in the clearest possible terms that any delay or inaction on the part of the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church in response to these charges will only lead to the public confirmation that the Holy Synod is in support of these un-Canonical actions on the part of Bishop Georgije.

We ask you to advise us of any Court costs or monetary charges that we are obligated to fulfill as per Article 61 of the Penal Code for the Ecclesiastical Court of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Yours,

Dushan Kolundzic
President
Saints George & Archangel Michael Serbian Orthodox Church
Niagara Falls

cc: – The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church
     – Members of the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church
     – Members of the Episcopal Council of the SOC in North America
     – All CŠO Presidents within the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada
     – All CšO Presidents within the New Gracanica Metropolitanate – Canada