Serbian Church Marks 70 Years Since Repose of St. Nikolai Velimirović

Photo: spc.rs

SOKO GRAD, SERBIA — The Serbian Orthodox Church marked the feast of St. Nikolai Velimirović and the 70th anniversary of his repose on March 15 with a solemn Divine Liturgy at the monastery dedicated to the saint in Soko Grad.

The service was celebrated by Metr. Hrizostom of Dabar-Bosnia and Metr. Jovan of Šumadija together with Bp. Isihije of Valjevo and Bp. Jerotej of Šabac, concelebrating with clergy from several dioceses. A large gathering of faithful attended the celebration honoring one of the most revered Serbian saints of the modern era.

In his homily, Metr. Hrizostom reflected on the saint’s repose in 1956 in Pennsylvania at St. Tikhon's Monastery, noting that although St. Nikolai died far from his homeland, he never ceased praying for the Serbian people during the difficult years of atheism and communism.

Bp. Jerotej also recalled the efforts of Bp. Lavrentije of Šabac in promoting the saint’s legacy and returning his relics to Serbia in 1991.

Previously, the UOJ reported that a symposium was held in the hometown of St. Nikolai Velimirović.

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