St. George Serbian Orthodox Church
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His Holiness PATRIARCH PORFIRIJE-Његова Светост Патријарх Порфирије
Patriarch of Serbia (Patrijarh Porfirije) -Његова Светост Патријарх Порфирије

 BIOGRAPGY OF THE NEW PATRIARCH PORFIRIJE 

 

 The Holy Assembly of Bishops elected His Eminence Metropolitan Porfirije of Zagreb-Ljubljana, PhD, as the new Serbian Patriarch, in its convocation in Memorial Cathedral of Saint Sava in Belgrade on 18 February 2021.

Immediately after the election a thanksgiving service was officiated and  Many years was chanted to the Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovac and Serbian Patriarch Porfirije. Bells at Saint Sava Cathedral in the Vracar district of Belgrade rang a few minutes before 4:00 pm indicating that the 46th Patriarch of Serbia was elected.

AXIOS!

Newly-elected Metropolitan Dr. Porfirije (Peric) of Zagreb-Ljubljana was born on 22 July 1961 in Becej, northern Serbia, and was baptized as Prvoslav. He finished primary school in Curug, and the “Jovan Jovanovic Zmaj” Grammar school in Novi Sad. He was ordained a monk according to the rite of small schime by his spiritual father, then hieromonk Dr. Irinej (Bulovic), at Decani Monastery in 1985.

He graduated from the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Belgrade in 1986, when the then Bishop of Raska-Prizren Diocese, future Serbian Patriarch Pavle of blessed memory, ordained him a hierodeacon at the monastery of Holy Trinity in Musutiste, Kosovo and Mectochia.

He attended postgraduate studies in Athens from 1986 until 1990. That year, upon the blessing of Bishop Dr. Irinej of Backa, he joined the monastery of Holy Archangels in Kovilj, near Novi Sad, where he was ordained as hieromonk and became its abbot.

Many young monks and novices came to the monastery following him. These were the years when the Kovilj Monastery became a spiritual center for many young people: intellectuals, artists, popular actors and rock musicians, especially from Novi Sad and Belgrade. Since then abbot Porfirije has particularly dealt with drug-addicted patients. For this purpose he formed (in 2005) a therapeutic community called “The Land of the Living”, which is recognized as the most successful project for therapy  of drug-addiction; under the leadership of Bishop Porfirije, it has more than hundred residents in camps throughout Serbia at the time being.

During the ordinary meeting of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the SOC in Belgrade on 14 May 1999 he was elected as Bishop of Jegar, Vicar of the Bishop of Backa.

He defended his PhD thesis  Possibility of knowability of God in St. Paul’s understanding according to the interpretation of Saint John Chrysostom at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Athens in 2004.

He became a lecturer at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology - Department of Pastoral Psychology - succeeding famous psychiatrist, academician Dr. Vladeta Jerotic.

Bishop Porfirije has not been just president of the Steering Board for a decade, but a real spiritus movens of the Humanitarian Fund “Privrednik”, which has provided scholarships for a great number of gifted, but poor pupils and students, regardless of nationality or religious affiliation.

The Assembly of the Republic elected him as representative of all Churches and religious communities, to be a member of the Council of the Republic Broadcasting Agency, and in 2008 the RBA elected him its president.

The Holy Assembly of Bishops entrusted him to establish military chaplaincy in the Serbian Armed Forces in 2010.

His expert theological works Bishop Porfirije published in magazines both in Serbia and abroad. He participated in quite  a number of scientific conferences and symposia throughout the world.

He speaks Greek, English, German and Russian.

He was enthroned on the throne of the Metropolitan of Zagreb and Ljubljana on July 13, 2014 in the Cathedral Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Zagreb. The solemn Hierarchal Liturgy was served by Serbian Patriarch Irinej, accompanied by a large number of archbishops of the Serbian Church and other sisters Churches, as well as priests and monks, and pious people.

The Holy Assembly of Bishops elected His Eminence Metropolitan Porfirije of Zagreb-Ljubljana, PhD, as the new Serbian Patriarch, in its convocation in Memorial Cathedral of Saint Sava in Belgrade on 18 February 2021. Immediately after the election a thanksgiving service was officiated and  Many years was chanted to the Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovac and Serbian Patriarch Porfirije.

 

His Grace BISHOP IRINEJ -Његово Преосвештенство Епископ Иринеј
His Grace Bishop Irinej -Његово Преосвештенство Епископ Иринеј

   

His Grace the Right Reverend IRINEJ (Dobrijevic)

Bishop of Eastern America
The Serbian Orthodox Church

 

On 25 May 2016 the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church elected by acclamation Bishop Irinej of Australia and New Zealand to the Throne of Bishops of Eastern America following the election of His Grace Bishop Mitrophan of Eastern America to the Throne of Bishops of Canada.

He was born in 1955 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, to his father Djuro and mother Milica (nee Svilar). His elementary and secondary education was completed in Cleveland, Ohio. After attending the Cleveland Institute of Art from 1973-1975, he attended St Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in South Canaan, Pennsylvania from 1975-1979, where he graduated with a Licentiate in Theology with the academic distinction maxima cum laude. In 1980 he enrolled in St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, New York and graduated in 1982 with a Master of Divinity degree with Honorable Mention for his master’s thesis Bishop Nicholai Velimirovich: A 1921 Mission to America. Following which, he entertained studies at the Athens Centre in 2000 and 2003 receiving levels I and II certificates in contemporary Greek language.

He spent most of his career in the field of education, lecturing at Loyola University in Chicago, and at the Theological Faculty of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Belgrade. For many years he was the co-editor of The Path of Orthodoxy, the official publication of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA and Canada.

His Eminence Metropolitan Christopher of Midwestern America ordained him a deacon on 15 January 1994 at the Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago, Illinois. He was tonsured a monk on 18 January 1995 at the St Sava Monastery in Libertyville, Illinois, receiving the monastic name Irinej after St Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons. Thereafter, he was ordained a hieromonk on 27 January 1995 at the St Sava Cathedral in Parma, Ohio, USA. He was elevated to the dignity of Archimandrite on 18 June 2006 by His Grace Bishop Justin of Timok (presently of Zhicha, a member of the Holy Synod of Bishops at the request of Patriarch Pavle.

The Very Reverend Archimandrite Irinej up until his election as Bishop of Australia and New Zealand was the Consultant to the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church on International and Interchurch Affairs and Coordinator of the newly created Kosovo and Metohija Office of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church at the Serbian Orthodox Patriarchate in Belgrade. Among his numerous recognitions, especially for his exemplary work in improving ties between the Serbian state and the Serbs of the Diaspora, and for his work in advancing relations between Church and State, in 2005, he was awarded the Order of Vuk Karadzich III Degree by President Svetozar Marovic of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, and is a 2007 recipient of the International Heraldic Order of the Fleur de Lys; 2008 Major Feldman Award of the Serbian Bar Association for merit; 2009 Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of the Eagle of Georgia and the Seamless Tunic of Our Lord Jesus Christ; 2009 Grand Cross of the Order of the Eagle of Georgia and the Seamless Tunic of Our Lord Jesus Christ; 2011 Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of the Eagle of Georgia and the Seamless Tunic of Our Lord Jesus Christ; 2011 Senator of the Grand Badge in the Order of Saint Queen Tamar; 2012 The Medal of Merit of the Royal House of Georgia by HRH Prince Davit Bagrationi Mukhran Batonishvili; 2013 Knight Commander of The Imperial Order of St Anne of the Imperial House of Russia; and 2013 The Imperial Medal “Jubilee of the All National Effort”, honouring the 400th Anniversary of the Imperial House of Romanov, 1613-2013 by HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna.

Among his many appointments, it is important to emphasize that Bishop Irinej represents the Serbian Orthodox Church to the World Council of Churches (WCC) Central Committee; is a member of the Jasenovac Committee and the Permanent Missions Board of the Holy Synod of Bishops; the Advisory Council of the Njegos Endowment for Serbian Studies at Columbia University; and the Editorial Board of the Tesla Memorial Society; and the Communications Committee of the Board of Directors of St Vladimir’s Seminary; a member of the Serbian-American Center in Belgrade; and an honorary Board Member for ZOE for Life! He is the Episcopal Patron for the Milosh Obilich Society of Serbian Chivalry and the Centre for the Study of Orthodox Monarchism, both in Belgrade, Serbia; Protector and Spiritual Advisor of Australia and New Zealand for the Order of the Eagle of Georgia and the Seamless Tunic of Our Lord Jesus Christ and Chairman of the National Heads of Churches of Australia.

Previously, Bishop-elect Irinej was the Editor-in-Charge of the Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church; Executive Director of the Office of External Affairs of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA and Canada, located in Washington, DC; co-chaired the Orthodox Advisory Committee of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in Metropolitan Washington; was a member of National Council of the Churches of Christ Environmental Justice Task Force (NCCC Eco-Justice); and served on the Board of Directors of International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC); the Executive Council of The United States Conference of Religions for Peace (USCRP), the Conference of European Churches (CEC-KEK), the Serbian Unity Congress, the Mayor's Advisory Council on Immigrant and Refugee Affairs in Chicago, and the Chicago Human Rights Commission.

On the basis of the decision of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of 26 May 2006, the Reverend Hieromonk Irinej (Dobrijevic), Consultant to the Holy Synod of Bishops, was elected as Bishop of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand. He was consecrated on 15 July 2006 in the Holy Archangel Michael Cathedral in Belgrade at the hands of His Eminence Archbishop Amfilohije of Cetinje, Metropolitan of Montenegro, together with 16 other bishops. He was enthroned on 21 October 2006 in the St Sava Pro-Cathedral in Elanora Heights, New South Wales by His Grace Chrysostom of Bihac-Petrovac, a member of the Holy Synod of Bishops, as Bishop of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, with its see in Sydney. The following day, 22 October 2006, His Grace was presented as the Bishop-Administrator for the Diocese for Australia and New Zealand New Gracanica Metropolitanate at the St Sava Monastery in Wallaroo, New South Wales.

Through his endeavors in drafting a new common constitution for the unification of his two dioceses, the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church on 23 May 2011 approved the proposed Constitution of the Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand of the Serbian Orthodox Church effecting the unification of the former Diocese of Australia and New Zealand and the Diocese for Australia and New Zealand New Gracanica Metropolitanate. The same were elevated to the dignity of a singular, unified Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand.  Hence, His Grace was titled Bishop of the Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Bishop Irinej holds the distinction of having thus far served the Church in Australia and New Zealand as its longest reigning hierarch. He also served as Chairman of the National Heads of Churches of Australia.

Having taken into consideration his significant diplomatic accomplishments, amongst all else, it was determined by the members of the Holy Assembly of Bishops that he be entrusted with the eminent Diocese of Eastern America with its See in New York City. The rebuilding of the St Sava Pro-Cathedral in Manhattan, recently destroyed in fire, will be the most formidable historic task awaiting the new Bishop as he assumed the Throne of the Bishops of Eastern America on 01 October 2016 at the hands of His Grace Bishop Longin of New Gracanica-Midwestern America in the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity in Pittsburgh.

 

Reverend Andrej Pavlovic -Свештеник Андреј Павловић

 

СВЕШТЕНИК 

Андреј Павловић 

(513)227-5126

fr.andrej@outlook.com

 

Свештеник Андреј Павловић рођен је 4. септембра 1996. године, у Рашки, од оца Јевте, свештеника и мајке Жељке, вероучитељке. Од ране младости показивао је интересовање за музику, те је кроз године рада и труда, стекао умеће свирања виолине у Основној музичкој школи "Коста Манојловић" у Земуну.

Након завршене основне школе "Бранко Радичевић" у Батајници, благословом  владике Василија и владике Митрофана, наставио је образовање у Богословији Свети Арсеније Сремац у Сремским Карловцима. Током средњошколског школовања, Андреј је певао у хору и био члан Црвеног крста, показујући своју посвећеност хуманитарном раду.

Након завршетка средње школе 2016. године, Андреј оставља родну Србију и одлази у Америку, где уписује православни Богословски факултет Светог Саве у Либертивилу. Током својих студија, Андреј је активно учествовао у животу факултета и радећи као библиотекар допринео организацији и раду факултетске библиотеке. Такође, ангажовао се као појац и вероучитељ у недељној школи у старој цркви Светог Васкрсења у Чикагу, делећи своје знање и љубав према вери са младима.

Завршивши студије на Богословском факултету 2020. године, враћа се у Србију и уписује мастер академске студије Религија у друштву, култури и европским интеграцијама, при београдском универзитету. Током мастер студија издржава се радећи административне послове у банци.

Благословом Његовог Преосвештенства, Епископа Иринеја 2022. године ступа у брак са Кристином. У октобру исте године, рукоположен је у чин ђакона у храму Рођења Пресвете Богородице у Батајници од стране Епископа Иринеја.

Tренутно служи као ђакон је у храму Светог Матеја у Сурчину, по благослову епископа Иринеја и одобрењу епископа Василија сремског..

 

 PRIEST ORDAINED ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2023

Father Andrej Pavlović biography

(513)227-5126

andrejpavlovic3@gmail.com

 

Father Andrej Pavlović was born on September 4, 1996, in Raška, to father Jevta, a priest, and mother Željka, a religious teacher. From an early age, he showed an interest in music, and through years of work and effort, he acquired the skill of playing the violin at the Primary Music School "Kosta Manojlović" in Zemun.
After finishing elementary school "Branko Radičević" in Batajnica, with the blessing of Bishop Vasilij and Bishop Mitrofan, he continued his education at the St. Arsenije Sremac Seminary in Sremski Karlovci. During high school, Andrej sang in the choir and was a member of the Red Cross, showing his commitment to humanitarian work.
After finishing high school in 2016, Andrej left his native Serbia and went to America, where he entered the Orthodox Theological Faculty of St. Sava in Libertyville. During his studies, Andrej actively participated in the life of the faculty and, working as a librarian, contributed to the organization and work of the faculty library. He also worked as a singer and religious teacher in the Sunday school at the old Church of the Holy Resurrection in Chicago, sharing his knowledge and love of religion with young people.
After completing his studies at the Faculty of Theology in 2020, he returns to Serbia and enrolls in the master's degree in Religion in Society, Culture and European Integration at the University of Belgrade. During his master's studies, he supports himself by doing administrative work in a bank.
With the blessing of His Eminence, Bishop Irinej, he will marry Christina in 2022. In October of the same year, he was ordained to the rank of deacon in the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Batajnica by Bishop Irinej.
He currently serves as a deacon in the church of St. Matthew in Surčin, after the blessing of Bishop Irinej and the approval of Bishop Vasilij of Srem.

 

Very Reverend Stavrophor Petar Petrovic- Протојереј Ставрофор Петар Петровић
Very Reverend Stavrophor Petar Petrovic -Протојереј Ставрофор Петар Петровић (513)512-1672

Very Reverend Stavrophor Petar Petrovic

(513)512-1672

protapetarp@gmail.com

 

Fr. Petar Petrovic was born in the village of Riljac, Serbia, on St.Elijah, August 2, 1953. He attended with his parents the local Churh of St.Peter and Paul in the village of Poljna. He received a degree from the Theological Seminary of Belgrade, Serbia in 1973.

   After completing his studies, Fr.Petar married Gordana Bojic in 1973, and was ordained by Bishop of Zicha, His Grace Vasilije Kostic. They have two sons, Fr.Dragan and Dusan Petrovic. Fr. Dragan is a Parish Priest in Indianapolis,he is married to Vesna and they have 3 children, Marija, Kristina, and Petar. The younger son, Dusan, is married to Lidija, and together they have two sons, Marko and Jovan.

   Fr.Petar served as a Parish Priest in Serbia for 10 years.

   In 1983 he and his family moved to Miami, Florida where he was a Missionary Priest, and served there as the pastor for 5 years. Following his service in Miami, he was transferred to Elizabeth, NJ., where he served for a couple of years. Fr.Petar allso served as a Parish Priest in Masontown, PA, Warren, MI, and Hotsprings, AR.

   On December 1st, 2000,  His Grace  Bishop Longin assigned Fr. Petar as priest at St.George Serbian Orthodox Church in Cincinnati, OH. For the past 20 Years he has served at the St.George Parish in Cincinnati, OH. In addition to Pastoral responsibilities Fr.Petar has held a real-estate license for 15 years. He works for "SIBCY CLINE" Real Estate Agency.

On September 24th, 2023 His Grace Bishop IRINEJ bestowed upon Very Reverend Archpriest Father Petar the Orden of Saint Peter of Cetinje, awarded by Patriarch PORFIRIJE on behalf of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church for active love for the Holy Mother Church, especially demonstrated by decades of zealous and devoted work in the Lord’s field. In receiving this most prestigious and honorable award and overcome by surprise and humility, Fr. Petar, inspired by the Holy Spirit, acknowledged that although only he will wear this medal, it is worn on behalf of all the faithful of St. George and his beloved bishop who recommended him before the synod of bishops and the patriarch. Many were moved to tears during these speeches.

Father Petar retired on December 31, 2023