Consecrated church at Dugo Polje

On Sunday, September 20, 2020, His Grace Ilarion, Bishop of Timok, together with archimandrite Kozma (Radovic), archpriest Aleksa Simeunovic, archpriest Dejan Milivojevic and Priest Nemanja Tobic, consecrated the Church of the Ascension of the Lord at Dugo Polje.

In addition to many faithful people, the consecration of the church was attended by Mr. Miodrag Nikolic, President of the Municipality of Sokobanja, Mr. Vladimir Milovanovic, Deputy Mayor, and Mr. Vladan Petkovic, President of the Municipal Assembly of Sokobanja. The whole event was enhanced by chanting of the members of the Zajecar choir at the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God.

The Bishop of Timok expressed his joy that the church after seventeen years had been finally completed, thanks to the prayers and great efforts of the locals, fellow citizens and priests. - Today, this material building has become spiritual. Just as a man becomes a spiritual man and a potential heir of the Kingdom of Heaven at his baptism, so these bricks of ordinary building material, with the blessing of the Holy Spirit, become sacred, said Bishop Ilarion.

During the consecration of the church, the relics of the Holy Martyrs who had suffered for the faith were installed in the Holy Table. On that occasion, His Grace the Bishop expressed special gratitude to Bishop Jovan of Slavonia, who honored the inhabitants of Dugi Polje with the blessing of the Holy New Martyrs of Jasenovac, whose holy relics had been built into the Holy Table of the church.

After the end of the holy worship, Bishop Ilarion presented Charters of gratitude for the special contribution to the construction of the church to  Mr. Jovica Stevanovic and Mr. Ljubisa Jovanovic from Dugo Polje as well as to Mr. Milan Stevanovic from Sokobanja.

Source: Diocese of Timok