Serbian Orthodox Church

Нада у заједништво и људску доброту

His Grace Bishop Irinej of Eastern America, at the gala in the National Theater in Belgrade on May 18, 2017, received the prestigious award of the Anna and Vlade Divac Foundation for the furtherance of philanthropy in Serbia.

This award is presented for exceptional endeavors and contributions to the improvement of living conditions for the most imperiled of our fellow citizens, as well as those who are refugees and displaced, those victimized by flooding, as well as for all who are destitute in any way.

Miraculous Myrrh-Streaming Kardiotissa Icon

Slava Celebration at St. George Parish in San Diego, California

With Paschal joy and Slava elation, the clergy and parishioners of St. George parish with their friends and guests, gathered for the central service of the Holy Orthodox Church - the Divine Liturgy, on Sunday, May 7^th.

It was truly a day of sanctification, that is, participation in the holiness of God. It must be said here that holiness or sainthood is a gift (charisma) given by God to man, through the Holy Spirit. His Grace, Bishop Maxim, entered the church with the singing of ‘The Angel Cried’. The Matins and Hierarchical Divine Liturgy were served with responses sung by St. George parish choir. Divine Liturgy began with the triumphant singing of “Christ is risen”, the joyful proclamation of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The Opening of the Relics of Our Father Among the Saints Mardarije First Serbian Bishop of America and Canada

With the blessing of His Grace, Bishop Longin of New Gracanica and Midwestern America, the relics of St. Mardarije, which have laid in the Church of St. Sava Monastery in Libertyville, Illinois, since his internment in December 1935, were uncovered. The opening revealed St. Mardarije’s holy relics to be incorrupt.

On Thursday, May 4, 2017, His Grace Bishop Longin served Divine Liturgy at St. Sava Monastery with Sindjel Serafim (Milojkovic), Priest Nikolaj Kostur and Hierodeacon Nektarije (Tesanovic), in preparation for uncovering the relics. Following the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Longin and the other clergy served a Moleban with the Akathist written to St. Mardarije. Upon completion, the crew organized to remove the tombstone and flooring in order to exhume the relics arrived, under the guidance of Mr. Dusan Djordjevic of Sveta Gora Funeral Home in Chicago. After removal of the stone, it was revealed that the casket of St. Mardarije was in a cement vault. This caused the opening to be delayed one additional day in order to organize a team to open the vault.

Slava Celebration in North Canton

On Sunday, April 30th, His Grace Bishop Irinej made his first Archpastoral visit to his flock in North Canton, Ohio.

The community gathered well in advance of the Divine Liturgy, prepared to welcome their hierarch as he entered the church. His Grace was first greeted by children from the parish who presented him with flowers, after which a procession of altar servers led him into the nave as the choir magnificently sang “The Angel Cried”.

Holy Fire in Columbus

On Friday April 28, 2017 Holy Fire from Jerusalem arrived at St. Stevan of Dechani Serbian Orthodox Church in Columbus Ohio. This was truly a great blessing and joy for all the faithful of our community. This coming Sunday, following Divine Liturgy, Holy Fire will be distributed to all parishioners of St. Stevan of Dechani.  Christ is Risen! Христос Васкрсе!