Bishop Irinej Congratulates Congressman Stivers

On January 2, 2019, His Grace Bishop Irinej, on behalf of the Diocese of Eastern America of the Serbian Orthodox Church, extended warm congratulations and heartfelt gratitude to Congressman Steven Ernst ‘Steve’ Stivers (R-OH) as he began his new role as co-chair of the Congressional Serbian American Caucus.

The Bishop expressed his confidence that under his leadership, the Caucus will continue its important work bringing the United States and Serbia closer together by affirming shared values and historic ties as a firm foundation upon which future relations should be established.

Ordination of Stefan Djoric to the Holy Diaconate

On the 23rd of December 2018, His grace Bishop Irinej, presided over the celebration of the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy at the Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Ellwood City, PA.

During the liturgy, a tonsured reader, Stefan Djoric, St. Vladimir’s Seminarian, was ordained into the Holy Diaconate.

The Blessing of ZOE Women’s Center

Saturday, December 8, 2018, was an auspicious day in the history of ZOE for Life!

On that day, His Eminence Metropolitan Savas of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Pittsburgh, together with His Grace Irinej of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Eastern America, came together with local clergy to bless the newly created ZOE Women’s Center. 

Patriarchal Nativity Encyclical 2018

The Serbian Orthodox Church to her spiritual children at Christmas, 2018

+IRINEJ

By the Grace of God

Orthodox Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade Karlovci and Serbian Patriarch, with all the Hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church, to all the clergy, monastics, and all the sons and daughters of our Holy Church: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, with the joyous Christmas greeting:

Peace from God! Christ is Born!

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld
His glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father,
full of grace and truth!”
(St. John 1:14)

John, the Holy Apostle, Evangelist, and the beloved disciple of Christ, expresses with his words The Word became flesh the great mystery of our Christian faith. He Who was “at the beginning”, that is from eternity, through Whom everything came to be, and without Whom nothing that exists came into existence, He Who is Life (cf. St. John 1:1-3), the Logos—the Word of God—became flesh when the fullness of time was fulfilled (Gal. 4:4), in order to bring to all people the gift of adoption to sonship, and to bring and to elevate them all to His and our Heavenly Father for their salvation and eternal life. (2 Cor. 6:18) 

Visit to San Diego & Elevation of Deacon Paul Germain to the Rank of Protodeacon

On Sunday of the Holy Forefathers, His Grace Bishop Maxim served the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the St. George parish in San Diego, California

On December 30, 2018, the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers, His Grace Bishop Maxim served the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in San Diego, California with the con-celebration of local and guest clergy, Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Miroslav Simijonovic from Zurich, Switzerland, Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Milan Vukovic, retired priest from St. Petka parish in San Marcos, Protopresbyter Bratislav Bratso Krsic, parish priest, Protodeacon Paul Germain and Deacon Vladan Radovanovic with the participation of the faithful.

Kosovo Serbian Men's Choir and Director R. S. Zivic Honored

Singing the responses at the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in honor of the Patronal Feast at Saint Demetrius Serbian Orthodox Church in Akron, Ohio, on Sunday, November 11, 2018, as well as performing at the festal banquet that followed, was the last time that ‘Kosovo’ Serbian Men's Choir sang under the hand of founding director, Dr. Rick Stevan Zivic of Cleveland, Ohio.

Dr. Zivic has, who has retired from his dental practice this past September 20, 2018, together with his wife Mary, plans on taking up residence in Florida with occasional visits to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and Cleveland, Ohio.