Christ's Nativity in the Orthodox Archdiocese of Ohrid

On the feast-day of the Nativity of Christ His Beatitude Archbishop of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skopje Jovan celebrated in the Stauropegial monastery of Saint John Chrysostom in Nizepolje, Bitola.

His Grace Bishop of Polog-Kumanovo and Locum Tenens of Debar-Kicevo Joakim celebrated the Holy Liturgy in Kumanovo, while His Grace Bishop of Bregalnica and Locum Tenens of Bitola Marko officiated  in Stip. It was in Skopje that His Grace Bishop of Stobi and Locum Tenens of Strumica David celeb rated the festal Divine Liturgy. Christmas liturgies were performed aso in other churches of the Orthodox Archdiocese of Ohrid as well.

Christmas at Milton Monastery

The feast of the Nativity of the Christ Child was solemnly celebrated at the Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Milton.

On eve of the feast, Badnje Vece, the church was filled with the faithful people who came from all over south Ontario that in joy they begin the celebration of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Saint Dositej of Zagreb

Metropolitan Dositej was born in Belgrade in 1887. He took Master of Theology from Kiev Religious Academy in 1904. He spent two years at the University of Berlin studying theological and philosophical science followed by philosophy studies at Leipzig. From 1907 to 1909 he taught at the Seminary of St. Sava in Belgrade.

He studied at the Sorbonne and the College of Social Sciences, Paris from 1907 to 1909 and in Geneva from 1910 to 1912. Besides his native Serbian, he was fluent in Russian, Czech, German and French. He also learned Bulgarian and English. In 1899, he was ordained to the rank of the monk at the monastery of Manasija. In May 1913, the Holy assembly of bishops of the Kingdom of Serbia elected him as a bishop. Subsequently, he was consecrated as the bishop of Nis on 25 May 1913.

Christmas in Buenos Aires

The feast of the Nativity of our Lord God and Savior was festively celebrated in Buenos Aires. Bishop Kirilo of Buenos Aires, Vicar to the Diocese of Buenos Aires and South and Central America, served the Holy Hierchichal Divine Liturgy at the Naitivy of the Most Holy Theotokos Cathedral.

Concelebrating were Fr. Stefan Jovanovic, Hieromonk Serafin Rakanovic and Protodeacon Nikola Radis.

St. Stephen liturgically celebrated in Rijeka, Croatia

On the 9^th of January 2017, when the Orthodox Church celebrated the memory of  St. Stepen the First-martyr and Archdeacon, the Divine hierarchal Liturgy was officiated in the church of St. Nicholas the Miracle-Worker in Rijeka.

The Eucharistic service was presided over by the competent Bishop of Gornji Karlovac, Gerasim; concelebrants were Archpriest-Stavrophor Mico Kostic and Presbyter Jovan Galamic. After the end of the Liturgy, the clergy blessed wheat and bread (cake) of those faithful who celebrate St. Stephen as their family patron saint.

National Day and Patron Saint-day of the Republic of Srpska

Marking January 9^th – National Day of the Republic of Srpska and its Patron Saint-day, Holy First Martyr and Archdeacon Stephen, began with the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the church of Christ the Saviour in Banjaluka officiated by His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch.

Their Graces Bishops Jefrem of Banjaluka, Hrizostom of Zvornik-Tuzla, Atanasije of Bihac-Petrovac and Grigorije of Zahumlje-Herzegovina cocelebrated. The Liturgy was attended by President of Republic of Srpska Mr. Milorad Dodik, Prime Minsuer of the Republic of Srpska Mrs Zeljka Cvijanovic with her ministers, Crown Prince Aleksandar and Princess Katarina Karadjordjevic, ministers in the Government of the Republic of Serbia, representatives of the political and public life anda great number  of the faitful.

• photo gallery (photo: Strahinja Kragulj)