Proclamation of Bishop Sergije of Middle Europe

On the eve of the feast-day of Holy Archangel Gabriel there gathered a pleroma the Serbian Orthodox Church led by His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, at the Cathedral church of Holy Archangel Michael in Belgrade, the Serbian capital.

The occasion for this solemn gathering was a proclamation of the newly-elected Bishop Sergije. Namely, in May of this year, the Assembly of the Serbian Orthodox Church elected Very Venerable Sergije, Archimandrite of Saint Nicholas Monastery of Rmanj, Bishop of the Diocese of Middle Europe. His Holiness Irinej headed the rite of the proclamation along with Their Graces Bishops: Dimitrios of Saphitos (Church of Antioch), Vasilije of Srem, Nikanor of Banat, Hrizostom of Zvornik-Tuzla, Pahomije of Vranje, Atanasije of Bihac-Petrovac, Milutin of Valjevo, Teodosije of Raska-Prizren, Marko of Bregalnica, as well as retired Bishop Vasilije of Zvornik-Tuzla and retired Bishop Konstantine of Middle-Europe.

After Archimandrite Sergije had stated, in front of the whole gathering of our Holy Church, that he would obey the will of the Holy Assembly of Bishops who had elected him Bishop of the Church of Christ in Germany and after he had received blessings from the Patriarch and Bishops, the proclaimed Bishop served the vesper service of the Pentecost. He was concelebrated by Archimandrite Ilarion – the new-elected Bishop of Timok, Archimandrite Arsenije – the new-elected Bishop of Toplica, Archimandrite Jeronim – then new-elected Bishop of Jegar, and Archimandrite Serafim, abbot of the Rmanj monastery, as well as by deacons of the Archdiocese of Belgrade-Karlovci.

Students of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Belgrade and the well-known First Belgrade Chanting Ensemble sang responses.