Resurrection of Prebilovci – Consecration of the church of the Resurrection of Christ in Prebilovci

Holy New Martyrs of Prebilovci, who, for Christ’s sake had been thrown into pits of Surmanci, found their final abode, and their relics, after over 70 years of waiting, are in a resting place!

On Saturday, on 8 August 2015, the Holy Church of the Lord, with its Eucharistic gathering, consecrated the church of the Resurrection of Christ in the village of Prebilovci in Hercegovina, while celebrating the newly-shining Martyrs of Prebilovci. His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej officiated the Divine Liturgy with the concelebration of sixteen Bishops, a large number of priests and in presence of a huge number of faithful.  On the eve of this historic event, a Vesper service was performed in the historic Monastery of Zitomislic, near Mostar, Hercegovina.

The event of the church consecration began with meeting of believers with the relics of the newly-shining mediators, holy Maters of Prebilovci. Serbian Patriarch Irinej and the gathering welcomed the procession coming from from the village, led by Bishop Maxim of Western America and Bishop Teodosije of Raska-Prizren, carrying coffins with relics. The consecration of the church of the Resurrection of Christ began with a procession and placing of the relics into the crypt of this church.

At the end of the Liturgy, during which Patriarch Irinej held a sermon, it was that from the roof of the newly consecrated church actor Petar Bozovic, academician Matija Beckovic, President of the Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik and Bishop Grigorije of Zahumlje-Herzegovina held their speeches.

The consecration of the church of the Resurrection of Christ and the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy in Prebilovci, in presence of thousands of people, and next to afore-mentioned Church dignitaries and other officials, was attended also by the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Nedjeljko Cubrilovic, envoy of President of Serbia Nedeljko Tenjovic, members of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and representatives in the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, mayors of municipalities of Eastern Herzegovina, representatives of the Roman Catholic Church, film director Emir Kusturica, actress Natasa Ninkovic, famous football-player  Dusan Savic, basket-ball player Dejan Bodiroga and others.

Source: Diocese of Zahumlje-Herzegovina