Feast of Saint Simon the Monk in the Studenica Monastery

His Grace Bishop Justin of Zica officiated the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the Studenica Monastery on October 7, 2020, on the feast of the Holy King Stefan the First-Crowned - Venerable Simon the Monk.

The abbot of the Studenica, Archimandrite Tihon (Rakicevic), concelebrated with monastics and clergy of the Diocese of Zica.

The Feast of Saint Tecla in the Old Church of Sarajevo

The day of remembrance of the Holy Martyr of Christ, the Equal-to-the-Apostles and Confessor of faith, Saint Tecla, was solemnly and liturgically celebrated at the Bascarsija square, in Sarajevo's Old Church of Saints Michael and Gabriel the Archangels.

Metropolitan Hrizostom of Dabar-Bosnia officiated the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy with concelebration of archimandrite Luka (Babic), protopresbyter staurophor Cedo Djureinovic and other priests.

Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro tests positive for COVID

His Eminence Metropolitan Amphilohije of Montenegro and the Coastlands was admitted to the Danilo I Hospital in Cetinje on October 6, 2020, for a routine check-up in preparation for his upcoming pastoral activities.

Prior to this His Eminence spent the previous days in isolation and under constant medical supervision. Although it was determined today that his general health condition is in order and that he feels well, the COVID test confirmed that His Eminence has infected the virus, and subsequently was transported to the Clinic Center of Montenegro in Podgorica. He will remain there as long as the infection lasts. Despite testing positive the general consensus of the doctors is that the metropolitan's health condition is completely stable and under control.

The Serbian Patriarch consecrated Transfiguration Church at Prolom Banja

On October 3 and 4, 2020, His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch visited the Diocese of Nis on the occasion of the consecration of bells on the recently reconstructed northern tower of the monastery of St. Nicholas at Kursumlija, as well as of the great consecration of the Church of the Transfiguration at Prolom Banja.

His Holiness the Patriarch was greeted by a number of monks, priests and faithful people, headed by His Grace Bishop Arsenije of Nis, on Sunday, October 4, 2020.

Four years since the enthronement of His Grace Bishop Irinej (Dobrijevic) of Eastern America

On 25 May 2016 the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church elected by acclamation Bishop Irinej of Australia and New Zealand to the Throne of Bishops of Eastern America.

He was born in 1955 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, to his father Djuro and mother Milica (nee Svilar). His elementary and secondary education was completed in Cleveland, Ohio. After attending the Cleveland Institute of Art from 1973-1975, he attended St Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in South Canaan, Pennsylvania from 1975-1979, where he graduated with a Licentiate in Theology with the academic distinction maxima cum laude. In 1980 he enrolled in St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, New York and graduated in 1982 with a Master of Divinity degree with Honorable Mention for his master’s thesis Bishop Nicholai Velimirovich: A 1921 Mission to America. Following which, he entertained studies at the Athens Centre in 2000 and 2003 receiving levels I and II certificates in contemporary Greek language.

Patriarch Irinej officiated the Holy Liturgy and a semi-annual panichida for Bishop Milutin in the Valjevo Cathedral

Prayers for the repose of soul of one of the most eminent hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Bishop Milutin of Valjevo, who lost his earthly life six months ago, was an occasion for a magnificent prayer gathering in the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Valjevo.

The Holy Hierarchal Liturgy and the memorial panichida for Bishop Milutin of blessed memory were served by His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej, with assistance of the administrator of the Diocese of Valjevo, Bishop Lavrentije of Sabac, Bishop Irinej of Backa, Bishop Jovan of Sumadija, Bishop Isihije of Mohács, monastics and clergy from several dioceses as well as of the Church Choir "Haji Ruvim".

Besides the relatives and friends of Bishop Milutin and many local faithful, representatives of state and local authorities, medical, educational and other public institutions and prominent businessmen from the Valjevo region took part in liturgical prayers.

His Excellency Valery Brilyov, Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus to Serbia and on a non-residential basis in Northern Macedonia and Montenegro, and some diplomatic representatives of several countries in Belgrade, paid a prayerful tribute to this important event in the liturgical life of the Diocese of Valjevo.