Bp. Irinej Celebrates Names Day at New Marcha Monastery

RICHFIELD, OH — Bp. Irinej celebrated the feast day of his heavenly patron, St. Irenaeus of Lyon, at New Marcha Monastery on September 5, gathering clergy and faithful from several Serbian Orthodox deaneries.

The celebration began with the Holy Hierarchical and Divine Liturgy, concelebrated by clergy from the Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Boston, and Washington Deaneries. The Monastery Singers, directed by Dr. Nikola Resanovic, provided the liturgical responses together with members of the Njegos Choir of St. Sava Cathedral in Cleveland.

In his homily, Bp. Irinej highlighted the theological legacy of St. Irenaeus, a second-century bishop and early Church Father. Born in Smyrna around 130 AD, Irenaeus was a disciple of St. Polycarp, who had been taught by the Apostle John the Theologian. He later traveled to Lyon, where he became bishop and served Christians during a period of persecution.

The bishop emphasized St. Irenaeus’ defense of the Christian faith against heresies. Through works such as "Against Heresies," Irenaeus defended the harmony of Scripture, Tradition, and Apostolic Succession and stressed the importance of preserving the teachings handed down through the bishops.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Djokan Majstorovic of Paterson, NJ, performed the Rite of the Patronal Feast, or Monastic Slava, for Bp. Irinej. The clergy and faithful then gathered for an agape meal hosted by Abbess Paraskeva and the sisterhood, with many guests remaining into the evening for fellowship at the monastery.

Previously, the UOJ reported that a bipartisan resolution proposed Serbian-American Heritage Month.