Serbian Orthodox Church

President of Serbia visits Diocese of Valjevo on the feast-day of Saint Nikolaj of Serbia

Upon the invitation of His Grace Bishop Milutin of Valjevo, on the feast-day of Saint Bishop Nikolaj (Velimirovic), President of Serbia Mr. Tomislav Nikolic participated in the Liturgy at the Lelic monastery and later on visited the nearby monastery of Celije.

That was the first visit of the current Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic to the Diocese of Valjevo. At the Liturgy he read the  Creed and Lord’s prayer, received Holy Communion and attended the  cutting of slava cake at the Lelic monastery, in honour of the feast-day of St. Nikolaj of Serbia. Their Graces Bishops Milutin of Valjevo and Atanasije of Bihac-Petrovac officiated the Divine Liturgy.

Bishop Longin ordains deacon Nikolaj Kostur to holy priesthood

On Palm Sunday, April 13, 2014, His Grace Bishop Longin of New Gracanica and Midwestern America served Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Joliet, Illinois. Serving with Bishop Longin were Parish Priest and Hierachical Dean of Chicago, Archpriest-Stavrophor Nedeljko Lunich, Archpriest-Stavrophor Bogdan Zjalich, Protodeacon Milovan Gogic, Protodeacon Victor Lochmatow (ROCOR) and Parish Deacon Nenad Jakovljevic. REsponses were beautifully sung by the local choir and the church was filled with many, many faithful. After the Great Entrance, Bishop Longin ordained Diocesan Deacon Nikolaj Kostur to the Priesthood.

Fr. Nikolaj, son of Archpriest-Stavrophor Lazar and Protinica Mira Kostur, is a graduate of the Holy Trinity Seminary (BTh - 2005) and of Saint Vladimir's Seminary (MTh - 2009). On July 26, 2009, Fr. Nikolaj was married to Katherine Wolkow, daughter of Rev. Protodeacon Pavel and Anna Wolkow of St. Seraphim Russian Orthodox Church of Sea Cliff, New York, by His Grace, Bishop Longin of New Gracanica and Midwestern America. After his wedding, Fr. Nikolaj began his service to the Diocese, first as Librarian of Joe Buley Memorial Library at New Gracanica Monastery and then later as Manager of the Diocesan Bookstore. On the feast of St. Nicholas, December 19, 2009, His Grace Bishop Longin ordained Fr. Nikolaj to the Holy Diaconate. Fr. Nikolaj served as Diocesan Deacon from 2009 until his ordination to the Holy Priesthood, as well as Personal Secretary of Bishop Longin from 2009 until the present time. He and Popadija Katherine have three children: Lazar (2010), Kasijana (2012) and Marija (2014).

High church order to Dr Leonid Reshetnikov

 His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, presented the order of Holy Emperor Constantine to Dr. Leonid Reshetnikov, Director of the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies (RISS), at the Serbian Patriarchate in Belgrade, today on 29 April  2014.

His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral, His Grace Vicar Bishop Jovan of Ulpiana, Founder of the NGO Naša Srbija Mr. Mladjan Djordjevic, several members of the Russian Duma, as well as friends and associates of Dr. Reshetnikov attended this solemn ceremony.

Pascha 2013 at Saint George in Cincinnati

What a joyous time of the year, as we emerge from the depths of the dark and cold and are rejuvenated with the coming of spring; the blossoming flowers, budding trees, warm weather, the whole earth comes alive again from a state of dormancy. After months of harsh winter weather, the past few weeks have brought about the change in the seasons, which is fitting as our Lenten period progressed up to Holy Week and finally culminated in Pascha. It seems only fitting that the whole creation would proclaim the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Bright Tuesday at Sretenje Monastery

His Grace, Bishop Maxim, Clergy, and parishioners from neighboring churches celebrated the Bright Tuesday Divine Liturgy at our Sretenje Monastery in Escondico, California. A wonderful luncheon picnic followed and was enjoyed by all on the beautiful Monastery grounds. 

Paschal Vespers in Alhambra

His Grace, Bishop Maxim and the clergy and parishioners of Saint Steven's celebrate the Paschal Vespers at noon on Pascha followed by a Banquet and Picnic.