Serbian Patriarch officiated in the Russian Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral in Chicago

His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia led the Divine Liturgy at the Diocesan Cathedral of the Protection of the Mother of God in Des Plaines, IL here on this day. His Holiness is presently in the United States having led the glorification of the St. Mardarije in Libertyville, IL on July 2/15 and 3/16. - Photo gallery

The other hierarchs participating in the day’s festivities at the Diocesan Cathedral were: Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro (Church of Serbia), Metropolitan Nicolae of the Americas (Church of Romania), Archbishop Nikodim of Severodonetsk and Starobelsk (Ukrainian Orthodox Church Moscow Patriarchate), Archbishop Peter of Chicago & Mid-America (Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia), Bishop Longin of New-Gracanica and the Midwest (Church of Serbia), Bishop Irinej of Eastern-America (Church of Serbia), Bishop Kyrill of Diocleia (Church of Serbia).

Serbian Church glorifies St. Mardarije of Libertyville

The festive celebration of the liturgical glorification of St. Mardarije of Libertyville was held this past weekend July 14-16 at various Serbian Orthodox churches and monasteries, culminating in the glorification Liturgy at St. Sava’s Monastery in Libertyville, where St. Mardarije’s incorrupt relics lie.

The celebrations were headed by His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia, who left Serbia on July 13, saying, “We joyously anticipate the upcoming celebration of the canonization of St. Mardarije of Libertyville, the first Serbian Orthodox bishop of America and Canada, and sharing in this great spiritual jubilee of our Church and spiritual children in America.”

Patriarch Irinej visited the Cathedral of St. Sava in NY

Glorification of Saint Mardarije of Libertyville

On Sunday, July 3/16, 2017, exactly 100 years since Hieromonk Mardarije (Uskokovic) was sent to the United States in order to assist with the Serbian Orthodox Mission of the Russian Orthodox Church in North America, His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej led the Glorification and Translation of the Relics of St. Mardarije of Libertyville and All-America.

With the blessing of His Grace Bishop Longin of New Gracanica and Midwestern America, the festivities began on Friday, July 14, with a Symposium dedicated to the Life and Times of St. Mardarije at Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, with lectures delivered by Dr. Srdja Trifkovic, Dr. Nicholas Groves and Dr. Nicholas Ganson.

Joint Press Release of the Inter-Church Commission

Communique of the Inter-Church Commission of
the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Croatian Bishops’ Conference

The sixth and last meeting, chaired by the President of the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences Fr. Bernard Ardura, and  held at Saint Martha's House (Domus Sanctae Marthae) in Vatican, on 12 and 13 July 2017, gathered the members of the Joint Commission of Croatian Catholic and Serbian Orthodox experts to jointly consider the figure of Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac, Archbishop of Zagreb.

Our Holy Hierarch, Father Mardarije, pray unto God for us!

Hierarchal Liturgy and Vigil service on the occasion of the celebration of Saint Mardarije of Libertyville and All-America was held on 15 July 2017. (photo gallery)