First Liturgy in Japanese in Belgrade Cathedral

With the blessing of Serbian Patriarch Irinej and Metropolitan Daniel of Tokyo and All Japan, Bishop Antonije of Moravica, Vicar Bishop of the Serbian Patriarch, celebrated the Holy Hierachal Liturgy with the concelebration of a guest from the Japanese Orthodox Church, priest Gregory Mizuno from Yokohama, in the Cathedral church in Belgrade on Sunday, 6 August 207, on the feast of the Holy Martyrs of Prebilovci and Lower Herzegovina.

Father Gregory pronounced prayers and exclamations in Japanese, which was, actually, the first time in history that in the Belgrade's Cathedral church the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy was served in this language as well.

Some clergymen of the Cathedral concelebrated. This is Fr. Gregory's third visit to Serbia. He came with his wife Elizabeth, and expressed a wish to concelebrate, for the first time, in Belgrade.

After the Liturgy, a solemn lunch was prepared for Bishop Antonije, Fr. Gregory and Cathedral clergy. Priest Gregory Mizuno stayed in Serbia from August 4-7 and during that period of time he visited Topola town in Sumadia and the Oplenac royal museum church with its world know mosaics.

The Japanese Orthodox Church has been autonomous since 1970 and belongs to the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Moscow. It counts 40.000 Orthodox believers, more than 30 parish priests and 150 parishes. Father Gregory serves at the church of the Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God in Yokohama.

translated by: Information Service of the SOC