The regular session of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church was held from May 14 to May 23, 2001 in the Patriarchate of Belgrade and presided over by His Holiness the Serbian Patriarch Pavle. All bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church participated in the work of the Holy Synod.

The Holy Synod sought to review all aspects of the life and mission of the Serbian Orthodox Church throughout its entire ecumenical territory, including, of course, all of its dioceses abroad, and to make appropriate decisions. During this process, the Holy Synod devoted special attention to church unity and the centuries-old ecumenical order of the Orthodox Church throughout the world, as well as the Serbian Orthodox Church as one of the local autocephalous Churches, welcoming with joy all initiatives which protect and promote the unity of Holy Orthodoxy and regretfully condemning all actions which undermine the ecumenical order and unity of the Church.

Within this framework it was again reaffirmed that it is only ecumenically appropriate and beneficial to all Orthodox believers that the overcoming of the division in the church and establishment of church unity in Macedonia be realized by means of the broadest church autonomy of the dioceses there under the ecumenical auspices of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The suggestion was also made to the bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Northern and Southern America to speed up the work on the completion of a common Statute in order to establish administrative unity as well after the re-establishment of liturgical unity. Difficulties and disputes were also pointed out in relations between some local Orthodox Churches, especially among the emigrant community, and the desire was expressed that the Serbian Orthodox Church consistently and impartially follow the path of serving the unity of the Orthodox Church and loyalty to the sanctified all-Orthodox ecumenical order as always in the past. Therefore the Holy Synod once again calls on the organs of state government in the Republic of Montenegro not to give practical support, citing democracy and human rights, to a para-religious organization (the self-styled "CPC" /Montenegrin Orthodox Church/) which is equivalent to the manipulation of faith for political purposes, thus endangering the identity, rights, freedom and property of the centuries-old Diocese of Montenegro and the Littoral. The Holy Synod also regrets uncontrolled criticism and attacks by individual groups and calls on all to respect ecumenical norms and to nurture within themselves the spirit of unity, confidence, sobriety and calmness.

The Holy Synod carefully followed reports regarding the situation in many dioceses of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Special attention was devoted to the report of the Bishop of Slavonia, Sava, and the difficulties with which he has been confronted in the renewal of his war-torn diocese.

Exceptional attention was devoted by the Holy Synod to tragic developments in Kosovo and Metohija and the escalation of Arbanas terrorism in the area of Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanovac, as well as in Macedonia. The Holy Synod welcomes all efforts by state organs of Serbia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia towards a peaceful and just solution for all people and nations in this area and condemns every form of violence, especially the terror and violence of Albanian para-military and terorist organizations. In addition to refugees from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are also a great number of refugees from Kosovo and Metohija. Not only is their return being prevented but Kosovo and Metohija are also being settled by many newcomers from Albania who are appropriating the houses and property of the expelled Serbs and doing so in the presence of international military and police forces. The Holy Synod calls on the domestic and international public to do everything possible in order to secure returns as quickly as possible for the refugees of Kosovo and Metohija and for all refugees and displaced persons, and to provide for the protection of their homes and property.

The Holy Synod officially addressed the highest representatives of Serbia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia with the request that with the beginning of the next school year, in accordance with international conventions, democratic standards in Europe and the world, and the democratic choice of our country following last year's political changes, respecting the right of the Church to educate children and young people in the spirit of faith, regular catechism, that is, religious instruction, be introduced in all beginning grades of primary and secondary schools. In conjunction with this, the Holy Synod advocates that this right be respected also with regard to other historical churches and religious communities in general which have traditionally been present in this region. At the same time, the Holy Synod welcomes the fact that no conscientious and responsible person any longer contests the necessity of the presence and spiritual-educational activity of the Church in all sectors of society and domains of public life.

The Holy Synod welcomed and blessed the activities of "Covekoljublje", the philanthropic foundation of the Serbian Orthodox church, for helping hundreds of thousands of refugees and socially endangered persons.

Toward the goal of furthering church education and schooling, the work of the Holy Three Hierarchs Seminary in the Monastery of Krka in Dalmatia is being resumed. The Holy Synod expects that during this period of privatization, the authorized organs in Serbia and Montenegro, and of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, will implement a process to return unjustly confiscated church property as soon as possible. The Holy Synod is also carefully following and encouraging the continuation of work on the church of St. Sava in Vracar, Belgrade. The Holy Synod has decided that the holy relics of the Holy Emperor Uros, transferred in 1705 from Nerodimlje in Kosovo to the monastery of Jazak on Fruska Gora, Vojvodina and taken from there in 1942 to Belgrade for safekeeping due to Ustashe--Croatian Fascist--violence be once again returned to the monastery of Jazak.

The Holy Synod founded the Diocese of Budim and Niksic which is to be seated in the Monastery of Djurdjevi Stupovi (Berane) and in Niksic from parts of the historical dioceses of Budim-Polimlje and Niksic, and elected the acting bishop of Budim, Joanikije (Micovic), as the administrator of the newly established diocese.

The Holy Synod of Bishops at its next session will be comprised of the following members: the Serbian Patriarch, Pavle, as president; and the Bishop of Zvornik-Tuzla, Vasilije, the Bishop of Backa, Irinej, the Bishop of Timok, Justin, and the Bishop of Vranje, Pahomije, as members.