Church of Resurrection of the Lord consecrated at Stanari

His Grace Bishop Fotije of Zvornik-Tuzla consecrated a new church of the Resurrection of the Lord at Stanari on 5 August 2018. The solemn rite was attended by President of the Republic of Srpska Mr. Milorad Dodik.

The following bishops participated in the rite of the consecration: Gerasim of Gornji Karlovac, Sergije of Bihac-Petrovac, Heruvim of Osek-Polje and Baranja, as well as the clergy of the Diocesan Deanery of Doboj.

Martyr Parasceva of Rome

Holy Virgin Martyr Paraskeva of Rome was the only daughter of Christian parents, Agathon and Politia, and from her early years she dedicated herself to God. She spent much of her time in prayer and the study of the Holy Scriptures. After the death of her parents Saint Paraskeva distributed all of her inheritance to the poor, and consecrated her virginity to Christ. Emulating the holy Apostles, she began to preach to the pagans about Christ, converting many to Christianity.

She was arrested during the reign of Antoninus Pius (138-161) because she refused to worship the idols. She was brought to trial and fearlessly confessed herself a Christian. Neither enticements of honors and material possessions, nor threats of torture and death shook the firmness of the saint nor turned her from Christ. She was given over to beastly tortures. They put a red-hot helmet on her head and threw her in a cauldron filled with boiling oil and pitch. By the power of God the holy martyr remained unharmed. When the emperor peered into the cauldron, Saint Paraskeva threw a drop of the hot liquid in his face, and he was burned. The emperor began to ask her for help, and the holy martyr healed him. After this the emperor set her free.

Diocesan Days in Jackson, California

Six Centuries of the Manasija Monastery

In the monastery of Manasija, foundation of Despot Stefan Lazarevic, six centuries of this sanctity of our faith was celebrated with the solemn Hierarchal Liturgy on Sunday, August 5^th, 2018.

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, officiated the Holy Liturgy with the concelebration of the host Bishop of Branicevo, His Grace Ignjatije, and hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church: His Eminence Metropolitan Porfirije of Zagreb-Ljubljana and Their Graces Bishops Lukijan of Budim, Pahomije of Vranje, Jovan of Sumadija, Joanikije of Budimlje-Niksic, Teodosije of Raska-Prizren, Andrej of Austria-Switzerland, Arsenije of Nis and Isihije of Mohacs, venerable monks, priests and deacons of the Holy Serbian Church. A mixed church choir of the Diocese of Branicevo sang responses.

President Vucic talked with the Serbian Patriarch

His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej received President of the Republic of Serbia Mr. Aleksandar Vucic at the Serbian Patriarchate on 4 August 2018.

The audience was attended by His Grace Bishop Stefan of Remesiana, Vicar Bishop of the Serbian Patriarch, and General Secretary of the President of the Republic of Serbia Mr. Nikola Selakovic.

His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej talked with the President of Serbia about the crucial contemporary issue: on the position of the Serbian people on Kosovo and Metohija, in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as in Montenegro and Croatia.

VIDEOS: Celebration of the 1,030th Anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’ in Kiev and Moscow

The Orthodox world gathered this week in celebration of the 1,030th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’, celebrated on July 28, the day that the Church commemorates the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Prince Vladimir, who adopted the Orthodox faith for the people of Rus’ in 988.

Festive Liturgies, molebens, and cross processions were held throughout Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and beyond, with the main celebrations being held in Kiev and Moscow.