Serbian Orthodox Church

Metropolitan Amfilohije officiated at Golubovci

Archbishop of Cetinje and Metropolitan of Montenegro celebrated Divine Liturgy in the church of St. Parasceve at Golubovci on March 19, 2017.

In his liturgical sermon after the Gospel reading, the Metropolitan pointed out that Christ’s Cross is the power the Lord revealed and granted us by His own Death and Crucifixion. It was Him Who first denied Himself, Who sacrificed Himself to the very end, Who was crucified for us and for our illumination and salvation sake. He was crucified and died in order to grant us eternal and never-ceasing life. Great Lent is just in that sign, in the sign of our purification, spiritual transformation… During the Liturgy he ordained into the priesthood deacon Blazo Petrovic, who is going to be pa parish priest in Zeta.

Patriarch Irinej paid a visit to the Diocese of Nis

His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej visited the city of Nis on March 17, 2017. His Grace  Teodosije, Bishop of Raska-Prizren and Administrator of the Nish Diocese, welcomed the Head of the Serbian Church in front of  the Cathedral of the Descent of the Holy Spirit.

The reason for this visit was the 80^th anniversary of the Institute for pneumatic deceases and tuberculosis in Nis. The Serbian Patriarch addressed participants of  the scientific symposium held on the occasion  of  this jubilee.

Bishop Gerasim of Gornji Karlovac marked his name-day

On Friday, March 17, 2017, on the Feast of Venerable Gerasim of  Jordan, which is also the name day of His Grace Gerasim, Bishop of Gornji (Upper) Karlovac, Croatia,  he was  visited by His Eminence Porfirije, Metropolitan of Zagreb-Ljubljana, and His Grace Fotije, Bishop of Dalmatia.

The Hierarchs were warmly welcomed by the host Bishop Gerasim in Karlovac. In a conversation that took place in Bishop's residence the life and work of the clergy, the state of Orthodox monasteries and churches as well as the life of Orthodox faithful in Croatia were discussed.

A Grand Celebration of the Church Slava in Miami

Winter is the most wonderful time of year in Miami. It's not too hot out, rather the perfect temperature to be able to bask in the beauties of Florida. During that time, Miami is filled with tourists, streets swarming with cars, and everyone just trying to take advantage of the weather and make the most of their annual vacations. 

Our community in Miami, at the Church of St. Simon Myrrhflowing, has more than one reason to celebrate and rejoice. The church celebrates its patron saint day, St. Simon, every year on February 26^th.  This year was special for our parish. Our newly appointed Bishop, His Grace Irinej, accepted our invitation and paid his first visit to our parish.

Lenten Vespers held by the Clergy Brotherhood of Tampa Bay

On Sunday, March 12, 2017 10 priests from the Orthodox Clergy brotherhood of Tampa Bay gathered together with Orthodox Christians from St. Petersburg and all of Tampa Bay for the Lenten Mission Vespers celebrated by the Brotherhood during each  Great Fast.

Sadly, the St. Petersburg Deanery is too vast for the Serbian Orthodox priests to gather together regularly, but we do have local brotherhoods which help to fill the void. Both Fr. Stephen Zaremba, from St. Sava in St. Petersburg and President of the Brotherhood, and Fr. Dragan Zarić, from St. George in Clearwater, are active in the brotherhood. Each parish hosts a vespers service on alternating years.

Living the Faith in Our Daily Lives, A Blessed Weekend in Jackson, California

Elissa Bjeletich gave three very interesting, invigorating, lucid and exciting lectures, which inspired very lively and constructive discussions. Elissa was the main speaker of the Lenten retreat entitled “Living the Faith in Our Daily Lives,” which took place at St. Sava Mission in Jackson and at Elevation of the Holy Cross Church in Sacramento, California, on Saturday and Sunday, March 11 and 12. The retreat was organized very well by Protinica Betsy Tumbas and, although it used to be organized for years as a women’s retreat, this time was open to everyone.