Information Service of NEW BISHOP ORDAINED On Sunday, July 20, 2003 His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle served the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the Belgrade Cathedral and ordained Milutin (Knezevic), hitherto Archimandrite of the Kaona Monastery, the Bishop of Australia/New Zealand.
His Holiness Patriarch Pavle officiated at the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy, while many other church officials served: Their Eminences Nikolaj Metropolitan of Dabro/Bosnia, Amfilohije Metropolitan of Montenegro/the Littoral, Longin Metropolitan of New Gracanica; Their Graces Lavrentije Bishop of Sabac/Valjevo, Irinej Bishop of Nis, Irinej Bishop of Backa, Georgije Bishop of Canada, Dositej Bishop of Scandinavia/Britain. Apart from them, other clergymen attended the ordination, such as their Graces Vasilije Bishop of Srem, Lukijan Bishop of Osijek/Baranja, Jovan Bishop of Sumadija and Porfirije Bishop of Jegar. Several priests and deacons also took part in the Holy Liturgy. At the beginning of the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy, the Bishop to be Milutin confessed his faith and took Bishop vows. During the Liturgy he was ordained Bishop. Patriarch Pavle said: ....We, through Our humbleness, pronounce this Archimandrite Milutin to be the appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, God save it. The new Bishop than received insignia of the Bishop title. Many faithful took the Holy Communion from the hands of Their Graces Amfilohije Bishop of Montenegro/the Littoral and Milutin Bishop of Australia/New Zealand. After receiving the Bishop sceptre, the new Bishop addressed the people present, with a very long and touching speech thanking his closest ones and all the faithful, and saying he would make his utmost efforts to prove worthy of that highly requiring service. HIS GRACE MILUTIN BISHOP OF AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND Milutin (Knezevic) was born on January 10, 1949 in an honest Orthodox family in the village of Mijaca near Valjevo. He went to the Monastery of Kaona in 1963, when he was 14. In 1967 he started attending monastic secondary school in the Monastery of Ostrog, whereupon he returns to his Monastery where he becomes the head of it and the parish priest. After taking the additional exams for the Seminary, he enrolls the Faculty of Theology in Belgrade. He continues the studies in America, where he graduated. For six months he was the Secretary of the Diocese of Canada, and for the next six months he was the parish priest in Niagara. Bishop Lavrentije appoints him hierarchal appointee of Sava/Tamnava region, and in the beginning of 2003 he was appointed the hierarchal deputy, after which he has been appointed Bishop of Australia/New Zealand. Bishop Milutin is dedicated to theoretical work as well; his articles are published in major theological magazines. |
