Bishop Atanasije (Rakita) of Mileshevo enthroned

His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej officiated the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy at Milesheva monastery on 6 August 2017, and on this occasion he introduced His Grace Bishop Atanasija (Rakita) into the throne of the Bishops of Milesheva. The ceremony was attended by envoy of the President of the Republic of Serbia Mr. Nikola Selakovic, Minister of Defense Mr. Aleksandar Vulin and Minister of Justice Mrs. Nela Kuburovic.

In the presence of many Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, representatives of state authorities, representatives of the Islamic Community of Serbia and the faithful, the solemn rite of the enthronement of His Grace Atanasije as Bishop of Milesheva was performed. Serbian Patriarch Irinej was concelebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Porfirije of Zagreb-Ljubljana and Their Graces Bishops Justin of Zica, Teodosije of Raska-Prizren, Pahomije of Vranje, Nikanor of Banat, Joanikije of Budimlje-Niksic, Sergije Epuscopus electus of Bihac-Petrovac and Marko of Bregalnica.

In the church of Holy Ascension of the Milesheva Monastery, near Prijepolje, His Holiness was concelebrated also by Archimandrites: Nektarije from Davidovice monastery, Serafim from Rmanj Monastery, Teoktist from Sopocani monastery, Isaija from Bijela monastery, abbot Teofil from Glogovac Monastery, protosyncellos Pavle from Orahovica monastery, protopresbyter-stavrophors StojadinPavlovic – Director of the Administration Office of the Patriarchate, Milovan Puzovic and Savo Rakita and many others.

The solemn Hierarchal Liturgy was attended by envoy of the President of the Republic of Serbia Mr. Nikola Selakovic, Minister of Defense Mr. Aleksandar Vulin, Minister of Justice Mrs. NelaKuburovic, Director of the Office for Cooperation with Churches and Religious Communities MiletaRadojevic, PhD; representatives of the municipalities of Zlatibor county, representatives of the Islamic Community of Serbia – Director of Madrasa Bakija-Hanuma in Prijepolje Nadir effendi Dacic, PhD, and Mustafa effendi Makic from Sjenica; Director of Media Center “Odbrana” Colonel Stevica Karapandzin, as well as by ppersonalities from social and cultural life of the Diocese of Milesheva.

Bishop Joanikije of Budimlje-Niksic read the decision of the Holy Assembly of Bishops relating to the election of His Grace Bishop Atansije as the new bishop of the Diocese of Milesheva.

Minister of Justice Mrs. Nela Kuburovic handed over a Milesheva’s panagia to the enthroned Bishop, and Bishop Justin handed over a bishop’s crosier.