Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
Avgust 9, 2006

NEW SUFFERING OF HIS BEATITUDE ARCHBISHOP JOVAN OF OHRID AND METROPOLITAN OF SKOPLJE

Yesterday at 2:30 p.m. His Beatitude Archbishop Jovan of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skoplje voluntarily reported to Idrizovo prison to serve a politically motivated, one-year prison sentence. The Macedonian court sentenced Archbishop Jovan for alleged abuse of diocesan funds. The reason for the short delay in reporting for service of the prison sentence was the poor health of Archbishop Jovan.

This act of yesterday represents a continuation of Archbishop Jovan’s suffering for the unity of the Orthodox Church, which throughout history has been acquired only through great endeavor and martyrdom.

May the Lord lend strength to his servant Archbishop Jovan so that he may endure once this latest suffering for the glory of God and the good of the Orthodox Archdiocese of Ohrid, as well as the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

Source: Orthodox Archdiocese of Ohrid Information Service
(www.poa-info.org)

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR SERB WHO PERISHED HELD IN BLACKTOWN, DIOCESE OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

Eleven years after the so-called Operation Storm, represented by one side as its supposed liberation from Serbian hegemony, the Serbs who were persecuted are commemorating something else. The evening of Sunday, August 6, 2006, in the church of St. Nicholas in Blacktown, a memorial service was held for innocent Serbs who lost their lives from Kosovo and Metohija, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Srpska Krajina.

Most of those in attendance were witnesses of this horror, as well as relatives and friends of the many who fell and who disappeared. After the prayer service a formal Academy was held, which proved to very successful. It took us back to the years of tragedy and sorrow but also awoke within us the hope and confidence that things cannot remain unchanged the way they are.

Prota Nenad Djurasinovic gave a presentation, after which the brothers Aleksandar and Petar Mrakic and their kum Dejan sang a spiritual song, “Vera Pravoslavna”. Mile Erkic recited his moving poem as a witness of the deaths of people identified by their full names.

Miroslav Bjelan, accompanied by guitar, sang the song “Molitva”, which was sung at funerals during the war as his farewell to his late brother. Nada and Vlada Sudar recited “Kosovka Devojka”, the Mrakic brothers chanted Psalm 135, and Prota Nenad then sang “Oj Krajino bole li te rane” accompanied by guitar. The program concluded with the wide-screen projection of the film “Republika Srpska Krajina”.

It was an unforgettable evening and very fitting remembrance of all those who fell defending their native land and people, as well as those whose graves remain unknown to this day.

The motto “Missing does not mean forgotten” was indeed confirmed this fine evening in the Sydney suburb of Blacktown. Prota Nenad Djurasinovic and Savo Sekulic were the primary organizers of this prayerful evening.

N. N.

FOUNDATION OF NEW CHURCH IN RATKOVO NEAR KLJUC CONSECRATED

On Saturday, August 5, 2006, His Grace Bishop Hrizostom of Bihac and Petrovac consecrated the foundation of the new church of Holy Father Nikolaj in Ratkovo on the slopes of Mt. Manjaca. Protopresbyter Predrag Azap from Vinkovci and the local parish priest, Protonamesnik Brane Klincov, concelebrated with Bishop Hrizostom.

The old church located there until 1995 and originally built in the 18th century, was destroyed and torched by the Muslim army in the last war. Even though the church site itself is difficult to access, the firm faith in God by the faithful of this parish provides the strength for this God-pleasing project to progress, and it is expected that the church will be built by the winter.

The religious service was attended by Mr. Jovo Turanjanin, secretary for religions in the Republika Srpska Government, who promised assistance with the construction of the holy church in Ratkovo.

Bishop Hrizostom praised the efforts to date of local residents of Ratkovo, and elevated their parish priest, Father Brane, to the office of protopresbyter.

Protopresbyter Predrag Azap

PATRONAL FEAST OF THE CIRCLE OF SERBIAN SISTERS IN ELANORA HEIGHTS, DIOCESE OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

On Sunday, August 6, 2006, the Circle of Serbian Sisters in the church-school parish of St. Sava in Elanora Heights celebrated its patronal feast, Venerable Mother Angelina. Officiating at the Holy Liturgy was His Grace Bishop Milutin of Australia and New Zealand with the concelebration of Protosingel Petar (Radulovic) and Protonamesnik Sasa Radoicic.

In his homily Bishop Milutin said farewell to the faithful of this parish, reminding them to nurture their Serbian faith and the Serbian language. Holy Liturgy concluded with the cutting of the slava cake.

The hostess of this year’s slava was sister Rada Miskovic and her family, while sister Jelena Jovic accepted the responsibility of hosting the slava next year. Bishop Milutin remained in conversation with the members of his diocese who wished to personally say goodbye and wish him a good journey in his new office in the diocese of Valjevo.

A formal program was prepared in the church hall with performances by several folklore groups from this church-school parish. Especially impressive was the presentation of all the generations of Serbian children divided into several folklore groups and dancing Serbian national dances.

Moreover, this visit by Bishop Milutin occurred at the same time as the beginning of work on the painting of the church. On this occasion the Bishop met woman fresco painter Tonja Ganin, who has already decorated several Orthodox churches with frescoes, including the Serbian church of the Holy Prince Lazar – Lazarica in Sydney.

The church of St. Sava will be painted with frescoes in the traditional Byzantine style. It is expected that the painting will be completed in 2009, when this church-school parish will celebrate its sixty-year anniversary.

Source: Diocese of Australia and New Zealand

HOLY PROPHET ELIJAH THE PATRONAL FEAST IN BACKA TOPOLA

On the feast of St. Elijah the Prophet the patronal feast of the church in Backa Topola was formally celebrated. After serving vespers His Grace Bishop Porfirije of Jegar blessed the slava wheat and cake. He then expressed his joy for being in this beautiful church and delivered an inspired homily on the Holy Prophet Elijah and the community of love.

Local parish priest Presbyter Srboljub Stojanov then thanked Bishop Porfirije for responding to the invitation and coming to visit and bless the people in Backa Topola.

After the service, a cultural arts program took place in the church courtyard including numerous traditional folk songs as performed by a large number of young people from Backa Topola, which greatly contributed to the festive atmosphere of this beautiful gathering.

Presbyter Miodrag Sipka,
Hierarchal administrator of Subotica

BISHOP IRINEJ OF BACKA SERVES VESPERS IN MLADENOVO

On Wednesday, August 2 / July 20, 2006, on the feast of the Holy Prophet Elijah the Tishbite, His Grace Bishop Irinej served vespers in Mladenovo on the church patronal feast of this small village. The church, dedicated to the Holy Prophet Elijah, is still under construction and is being built in the traditional (Serbian-Byzantine) style. At the end of the service the slava cake was cut and Bishop Irinej addressed the clergy of the Backa Palanka administrative district and the numerous faithful in attendance. In an inspired sermon he briefly reminded all present of the life, zealous endeavor and role of this lover of justice from the Old Testament in the spiritual preparation of the Chosen People for the arrival of the Messiah, the Savior of the world.

At the end of his address, Bishop Irinej presented recognitions by the church parish in Mladenovo to the biggest contributors who generously assisted in the construction of the church of St. Elijah in Mladenovo. He also expressed thanks for the welcome prepared for him by the local residents, especially the children attending religious instruction.

Source: Diocese of Backa

ILINDAN ASSEMBLY HELD ON MT LUKAVICA

The traditional St. Elijah’s Day (Ilindan) Church-People’s Assembly held in Nisin Kiljan on Mt. Lukavica was attended by a large number of people from various parts of Montenegro. Three Orthodox Bishops performed the consecration of the foundation of the future church of the Holy Prophet Elijah.

The Assembly of Zagarcani, Piperi, Zupljani, Rovcani and Moracani began this year with Holy Hierarchal Liturgy served by His Grace Bishop Joankije of Budimlje and Niksic and his priests on the foundation of the future church.

“In the time of St. Elijah, like in our own time, the people began to worship false gods,” said Bishop Joanikije in his homily. “The Prophet called upon them more and more zealously in the name of God. And the more people moved away from God, the more faithful he was. But God also celebrated him increasingly through countless miracles, miracles the likes of which were performed afterward only by the Lord Jesus Christ,” he said.

Afterwards at about 1:00 p.m. His Eminence Archbishop Amfilohije of Cetinje, Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, His Grace Bishop Peter of Cleveland, Vicar of the Chicago Diocese (Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia), and Bishop Joanikije consecrated the foundation of the future church of St. Elijah.

“The Assembly in Nisin Kiljan which has taken place for centuries today receives its consecrated foundation, its sacred insignia for the future and for future generations,” said Metropolitan Amfilohije. “Every people’s assembly held in the name of God is blessed but especially this assembly, in this place, from today and into the future,” he said on the occasion of the consecration of the future holy shrine.

Metropolitan Amfilohije thanked all those who contributed to the placing of the cornerstone of the church of St. Elijah, and expressed the hope that next year a gold cross would shine on it.

Source: Diocese of Budimlje and Niksic

[Serbian Translation Services]