State Day and Patron Saint-day of Republic of Srpska

On the occasion of the Patron Saint-day and the State Day of the Republic of Srpska, His Holiness Irinej, the Serbian Patriarch, officiated the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the Cathedal church of Christ the Saviour in Banjaluka on the feast-day of H0ly First Martyr and Archdeacon Stephen, on 9 January 2018.

The Patriarch was concelebrated by Metropolitan Hrizostom of Dabar-Bosnia, Bishop Jefrem of Banjaluka, Bishop Fotije of Zvornik-Tuzla and Bishop Sergije of Bihac-Petrovac and local priests.

His Holiness said that the Republic of Srpska has to be preserved, because it is the only way that the Serbian people on these areas could protect their name and cultivate their culture.

According to Tanjug, His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch stressed: - People can talk many things, but we see how much President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, with associates,  fights to save Kosovo and Metohija, that the holiest part of our country, our Jerusalem, our Palestine, our Holy Land, with all those numerous, great and glorius sanctities.
- We thank the Lord for granting us a man who fights as a lion for the Serbian people, and especially for martyred and tormented Kosovo and Metohija, Patriarch Irinej said.

The Holy Hierarchal Liturgy was attended by President of the Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik, President of the National Assembly of Srpska Nedeljko Cubrilovic, Prime Minister of the Government Zeljka Cvijanovic, ministers in the Government of Republic of Srpska, other high officials of Srpska, as well as presidents of political parties in Republic of Srpska.The Holy Liturgy was also attended by Secretary General of the President of Serbia Nikola Selakovic as Mr. Vucic’s special envoy, ministers of the Government of Republic of Serbia Nebojsa Stefanovic and Aleksandar Vulin, Crown Prince Aleksandar Karadjordjevic and Princess Katherine and lots of faithful people.

After the Liturgy, for the glory and honour of Holy First Martyr and  Archdeacon Stephen, the Patron Saint-day of Republic of Srpska, the slava wheat and cake were blessed.

 phоto gallery no. 1, phоto gallery no. 2

photo: Strahinja Kragulj