Serbian Orthodox Church

Diocesan Day held in Eastern Diocese

 With the blessing of His Grace Bishop Mitrophan of Eastern America the annual Diocesan Day celebration was held on Sunday, August 10, 2014. 

The day began with the Holy Hierarchical Divine Liturgy with twenty three diocesan priests and one deacon assisting His Grace, the bishop, at the holy altar. Churches from the Cleveland and Pittsburgh area were closed and all parishioners were invited to attend the diocesan celebration in Shadeland, which also served as the closing of this year's children's camp season.

SOTAYA during the 21st Church Assembly

 On August 5th through 8th the 21st Church Assembly was held in the Western American Diocese at the Saint Steven's Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Alhambra, California. Members of the SOTAYA groups attended and participated in many events and festivities throughout the week.

21st Church Assembly - Day Three

The third and final day of the Sabor began with the Holy Hierarchical Divine Liturgy served by His Grace Bishop Mitrophan of Eastern America with the concelebration of a number of clergy.

The fifth and final plenary session began after breakfast. During this session the current members of the Central Council were released and the newly elected members were sworn in. Closing remarks and miscellaneous items were discussed and the Sabor was adjourned with a prayer.

Consecration and the enthronement of Bishop Ilarion of Timok

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch performed the rite of consecration during the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy, and introduced Bishop Ilarion, the former head of the Monastery of Bukovo to the throne of Bishops of Timok at the Cathedral Church of the Most Holy Mother of God in Zajecar.

• Photo gallery of the enthronement of Bishop Ilarion of Timok

At the Divine Liturgy His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej was concelebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral and Their Graces Bishops: Justin of Zica, Policarp of Belogradcisce (Bulgarian Patriarchate), Teodosije of Raska-Prizren, Marko of Bregalnica and Antonije of Moravica, then, archimandrites, elected bishops Arsenije of Toplica and Jeronim of Jegar, as well as protopresbyter-stavrophor Anastasios Koropulu, dean of the church of Holy Apostle Thomas in Athens. Also, many monks and priests from other Local Orthodox Churches concelebrated. Their Graces Bishop Irinej of Backa, Pahomije of Vranje, David of Krusevac and elected Bishop Jovan of Slavonia prayerfully participated in the Liturgy.

Metropolitan Amfilohije receives Nuncio Luigi Pezzuto

Archbishop of Cetinje and Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral Amfilohije received Apostolic Nuncio to Bosnia and Herzegovina and to Montenegro Monsignor Luigi Pezzuto at the Metropolitanate in Cetinje on 8 August. 

Metropolitan Amfilohije and Monsignor Pezzuto discussed about the status of the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Church in Montenegro and about the status of Christians and their mutual relations in the modern world. Monsignor Pezzuto worshipped the Righ hand of Saint John the Baptist at the Cetinje, particle of the Precious Cross and the relics of Saint Peter of Cetinje.  

Proclamation of Bishop Ilarion of Timok

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, officiated the rite of the proclamation of the elected Bishop of Timok, Archimandrite Ilarion, former head of the monastery of Bukovo at the Cathedral church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God in Zajecar.

His Holiness was concelebrated by Their Graces Bishops: Justin of Zica, Policarpos of Belogradcisce (Bulgarian Patriarchate), Irinej of Backa, Pahomije of Vranje, Marko of Bregalnica, Teodosije of Raska-Prizren, elected Sergije of Middle Europe and Antonije of Moravica.