CHURCH AS A COMMUNION

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it ..." (1 Corinthians 12,27)

The Orthodox Church is one, holy, catholic and apostolic, as we confess in the Creed, i.e. in the Symbol of Faith. It is the communion (Gr. &&koinonia&&) of the holy since all its members are united in Christ, through the Holy Spirit. There exists a ceaseless unity in prayer between the visible, earthly, part of the Church and that part of it which is in Heaven.
The Church is present on all continents and with its presence and apostolic work it serves as a witness of Gospel to all nations. Millions of Orthodox faithful are organized as autocephalous Churches of which the Serbian Orthodox Church is also one: that of Constantinople (Patriarch of Constantinople is the first in honor among all heads of autocephalous Orthodox Churches), Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Russia, Bulgaria, Romania, Georgia, Cyprus, Poland, Albania, America; and as autonomous Churches: Czech, Slovakian, Churches of Sinai, Crete, Finland, Japan, China and Ukraine.
They believe in the same God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, they get baptized and labor to live according to their baptism; they partake in the Communion of the body and the blood of Christ at the same Last Supper with Apostles, martyrs and the holy of all ages.
Autocephalous Churches consist of dioceses, and these are divided up into parishes.
At the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church there stands a patriarch chosen by the Holy Council (Assembly) of Bishops consisting of all bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Serbian Orthodox Church is divided into dioceses each headed by its own bishop. All in all, Serbian Orthodox Church consists of 40 dioceses: The Archbishopric of Beograd and Karlovats, Ser. $&$Beogradsko-karlova~ka$&$, with its See in Beograd; Australia and New Zealand (See in Elaine); Australia and New Zealand (Hall, Metropolis of Nova Grachanitsa); Banat, Ser. $&$Banatska$&$ (Vrshats); Banyaluka, Ser. $&$Bawalu~ka$&$ (Banyaluka); Bachka, Ser. Ba~ka (Novi Sad); Bihach and Petrovats, Ser. $&$Biha}ko-petrova~ka$&$ (Bosanski Petrovats); Branichevo, $&$Brani~evska$&$ (Pozharevats); Britain and Scandinavia (Stockholm); Buda (Sentandrea); Vranye, Ser. $&$Vrawska$&$ (Vranye); Upper Karlovats, Ser. $&$Gorwokarlova~ka$&$ (Karlovats); Dabar Bosna, Ser. $&$Dabro-bosanska$&$ (Sarayevo); Dalmatia, Ser. $&$Dalmatinska$&$ (Shibenik); Zhica, Ser. $&$@i~ka$&$ (monastery Zhica); Zagreb and Lyublyana, Ser. $&$Zagreba~ko-qubqanska$&$ (Zagreb); West America (Alhambra); West Europe (Paris); Zahumlje and Hercegovina, Ser. $&$Zahumsko-hercegova~ka $&$(Mostar); Zvornik and Tuzla, Ser. $&$Zvorni~ko-tuzlanska$&$ (Tuzla); Zletovo and Struma, Ser. $&$Zletovsko-strumi~ka$&$ (Shtip); East America (Edgeworth); Canada (Milton); Milesheva, Ser. $&$Mile{evska$&$ (monastery Milesheva); Nish, Ser. $&$Ni{ka$&$ (Nish); America, Canada and the Third Lake (Metropolis of Nova Grachanitsa); Ohrid and Bitola, Ser. $&$Ohridsko-bitoqska$&$ (Bitola); Osechko-polska and Baranya Ser. $&$Ose~ko-poqska i barawska$&$ (Dalj), Rashka and Prizren, Ser. $&$Ra{ko-prizrenska$&$ (Prizren), Skoplye, Ser. $&$Skopska$&$ (Skoplye), Slavonia, Ser. $&$Slavonska$&$ (Pakrats), Mid-West American (Libertyville), Central Europe (Hildesheim), Srem, Ser. $&$Sremska$&$ (Sremski Karlovtsi), Serbian Orthodox Vicariate of Skadar (Skadar), Temishvar, Ser. $&$Temi{varska$&$ (Temishvar), Timok, Ser. $&$Timo~ka$&$ (Zajechar), Crna Gora and Primorye, Ser. $&$Crnogorsko-primorska$&$ (Montenegro and the Littoral, Cetinye), Shabac and Valyevo, Ser. $&$[aba~ko-vaqevska$&$ (Shabac), Shumadia, Ser. $&$[umadijska$&$ (Kraguyevats). Dioceses are divided up into Episcopal Deaneries, each consisting of several Church Congregations and Parishes. Church Congregations consist of one or more Parishes. Parish is the smallest Church unit - a communion of Orthodox faithful congregating at the Holy Eucharist with the parish priest at their head.

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