Serbian Orthodox Church

Consecration of the Bishop-elect Metodije of Dioclea

The Serbian Patriarch Irinej will perform the consecration of the Bishop-elect – Very Venerable Archimandrite Methodije (Ostojic) as vicar Bishop of Dioclea, in the Cathedral church of the Resurrection of Christ in Podgorica, on July 22 2018.

The welcoming of His Holiness Patriarch will take place the day before, on July 21, 2018 at 18:30, in front of the Resurrection Cathedral church in Podgorica, after which a festive vigil service will be served. Archimandrite of the Cetinje Monastery, Archimandrite Metodije (Ostojic) was elected Vicar Bishop of Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro-Coastland, with the title Bishop of Dioclea at the regular convocation of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church in 2018.

Biography of the Bishop-elect Metodije (Ostojic)

Archimandrite Metodije (baptismal name Ljubisa) Ostojic was born in Sarajevo on April 1, 1976, as the third child of Orthodox parents Milinka and Dragica (born Milicevic). He finished the eight-year school and first two classes of the high school in Sarajevo, BH, from where he and his family due to civil war conflicts moved to Podgorica, Montenegro.

The other two classes of the high school he finished in Podgorica. During his stay in Sarajevo he finished elementary music school. After graduating from the high school in 1994, he immatriculated the Faculty of Economics at the University in Podgorica, where he graduated in 2001. In 2002 he came to the Cetinje Monastery, where he was tonsured on the eve of feast-day of Sts. Peter and Paul, on July 11, 2004, and got the monastic name Metodije (according to St. Methodius the Slav Enlightener.

Serbs celebrate Royal Martyrs with Liturgy and procession in capital

 Tsar Nicholas II was “one of the greatest rulers and tsars of Russia in his moral and spiritual qualities,” the Serbian patriarch said.

While 100,000 Orthodox faithful gathered in Ekaterinburg on Monday night to honor the 100th anniversary of the Royal Martyrs, they were honored with another Divine Liturgy and procession in Belgrade yesterday morning.

The Centennial Anniversary of the “Day of Prayer for Serbia” in Washington

  Under the spiritual patronage of the Bishop of Eastern American, His Grace Irinej, the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America is organizing a multi-day celebration of these significant events in Washington DC.

On July 28, 1918 the government of Woodrow Wilson, the President of the United States of America, issued a proclamation marking that day "A Day of Prayer for Serbia". It was determined that on that day the Serbian flag would wave at the White House and that church bells throughout America would ring in honor of Serbian victims of World War I. A large number of Serbs from America had left their families and homes in the New World, desiring to help their brothers in the battle for honor and freedom in the homeland and join the Serbian army. Many of them never returned. Recognizing their sacrifices and love for the Serbian people, but remembering the great friends of our people in America, the Serbian Orthodox Church is organizing a celebration of the 100^th Anniversary of President Wilson's proclamation, the breakthrough of the Salonika Front and the end of the World War I.

Vidovdan Celebration at St. Sava Church in San Gabriel

“Remembrance is an act of love… ” (Alexander Schmemann)

These words of Fr. Alexander are probably best fitting to summarize this years’ Vidovdan celebration at the Saint Sava Parish of Los Angeles, CA. God remembers us, and His remembrance, His love is the foundation of the world and our existence. In like manner, our prayerful commemoration and remembrance of the Holy Prince Lazar along with all the martyrs from Kosovo and new martyrs of all Serbian lands serves as the Life-giving spring, an inspiration and encouragement to us, their descendants, to emulate them, thus emulating The Proto-Martyr Christ.

Vidovdan 2018 in Fair Oaks, California

Commemorated: Sunday, June 24, 2018

Oftentimes, when we think of a long-ago historical Church remembrance, we forget that WE are sharing in the mental life of the event.  We might even forgo attending the Church service itself, excusing our lack of attendance with a worldly excuse.  These human failings were not witnessed in our Assumption of The Blessed Virgin Mary Serbian Orthodox Church last Sunday.  Rather, all who attended the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy were aware that we were witnessing an event that we were ‘feeling.’  As one of the celebrants stated, “This was a serene and beautifully moving Divine Liturgy.”  It is not often that a feeling of being enclosed in a moment of time is felt by so many.  We were all blessed in sharing this feeling.

A High Church Distinction for Mrs. Eleonora Mitrofanova

The Serbian Patriarch decorated Mrs. Eleonora Mitrofanova with the Order of Holy Empress Milica – Venerable Eugenia. The Russian state and the Russian Orthodox Church continue to help interior decoration of the Memorial Cathedral of Saint Sava in Belgrade.

On the occasion of celebrating the Day of family, love and fidelity, July 9^th, 2018, His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej visited the Russian Cultural Centre (the Russian House) in Belgrade, where he was cordially welcomed by protopresbyter Vitaly Tarasyev, principal of the church of Holy Trinity of the Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church in Belgrade, and Mrs. Nadezda Kuschenkova, Director of the Russian House. After a short reception in the solemn salon, where Mr. Aleksadar Schepurin, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Belgrade, attended the cordial talks, His Holiness with his entourage and hosts moved to the solemn hall of the Russian House.