Central celebration of the jubilee of the monastery Prohor Pcinjski

On the occasion of 950 years since the foundation of the Monastery of Prohor Pcinjski and 700 years since the demise of Holy King Milutin the Diocese of Vranje organized a three-day working and solemn celebration under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Serbia Mr. Aleksandar Vucic, from 12-14 June 2021.

His Holiness Porfirije, Serbian Patriarch celebrated the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy with the concelebration of Metropolitan John of Belgorod from the Russian Orthodox Church and fifteen hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the Monastery of Prohor Pcinjski on 13 June 2021.

Nuns of the Monastery of Saint Stephen in Gornji Zalski and choir of Holy Prince Lazar from Krusevac sang responses.

The Holy Liturgy was attended by representatives of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, ambassadors of many countries, representatives of the Police, Serbian Armed Forces, city and local self-governments, rector of the University of East Sarajevo with associates, representatives of Serbian organizations in North Macedonia, representatives of institutions, companies and a great number of believers both from Serbia and surrounding countries.

During the Liturgy, His Holiness Porfirije, Serbian Patriarch addressed the present with the sermon.

At the end of the Holy Liturgy, His Grace Pahomije, Bishop of Vranje, thanked everyone who contributed to the preparations for the celebration of the great jubilee, as well as everyone who came to the celebration, and especially His Holiness Porfirije, Serbian Patriarch and His Eminence Metropolitan John of Belgorod from Russia, to whom he presented icons of Saint Prohor Pcinjski.

The solemn academy on the occasion of the great jubilee of the monastery of the Venerable Prohor Pcinjski began at 12 pm, where academician Dr. Slavenko Terzic spoke, and nuns from the monastery of the Holy Archdeacon Stefan from Gornji Zapski and the Children's Choir of the Stevan Mokranjac Music School from Vranje participated.

Due to the comprehensive assistance of the state of Serbia to the monastery, on the occasion of its renovation, for the maintenance and preparation of the great jubilee, the Diocesan Council of the Orthodox Diocese of Vranje made a decision to award the patron of the great jubilee, the President of the Republic of Serbia Alexander Vucic, with the Order of the Venerable Prohor Pcinjski. The Order was presented to the President by His Grace Bishop Pahomije of Vranje.

After the solemn academy, a cultural and artistic program was organized, and for all the guests, participants in the celebration, and all the believing people present, the festive agape feast was prepared by the Organizing Committee with the help of donors.

In the afternoon, His Holiness Porfirije, the Serbian Patriarch, accompanied by the host, His Grace Bishop Pahomije of Vranje visited large families in Presevo, in the suburb of Zeleznicka Stanica, in the villages of Lopardince and Bujanovac, giving them material help. Also, the Patriarch visited churches of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul and St. George in Lopardinci.

Source: Diocese of Vranje