The monastery of Gračanica today celebrated the feast of St. Athanasius the Great and the name day of Bishop Atanasije (Athanasius), the administrator of the Diocese of Raška-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija. Bishop Atanasije served Holy Liturgy with the concelebration of his deputy, Vicar Bishop Teodosije, and eight priests. In addition to the sisters of Gračanica Monastery and the nuns of Končul Monastery, the monks of Dečani and approximately ten faithful from Gračanica also took part in the Liturgy. During Holy Liturgy Bishop Atanasije gave an inspired homily about Psalm 102 and the spiritual relationship of man and God which is manifested through thanksgiving and humility before the mystery of God's love. At the end of the Holy Liturgy, Bishop Teodosije wished Bishop Atanasije a happy name day and thanked him for the great efforts he has invested for the good of the Church and the people, especially in Kosovo and Metohija. After breaking the slava bread and refreshments in the monastery reception room, Abbess Efrosinija and her sisters prepared a slava luncheon for all.

The Ascension day was celebrated today at Visoki Dečani Monastery with a Holy Liturgy served by Bishop Atanasije, the administrator of the Diocese of Raška-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija, with the concelebration of Vicar Bishop Teodosije and seven priests and priest-monks. Some 200 faithful from different parts of Kosovo and Metohija and central Serbia took eucharistic part in the Holy Liturgy. Also at the celebration were monks from the monasteries of Sopoćani and Tvrdoš, and the sisters from Končul Monastery with Abbess Minodora, as well as sisters from Gračanica Monastery. Meanwhile, another 300 pilgrims arrived from various parts of Kosovo and Metohija. Bishop Atanasije delivered a homily about the significance of the feast of the Ascension of Christ in the order of the salvation of humanity and all creation.

During Holy Liturgy on the patron saint's day of Dečani Monastery, news arrived that Serb returnees in the village of Žač, Istok municipality, were targeted by automatic gunfire at about 11 o'clock last night from a nearby road, and the closest tent was riddled with bullets. By God's providence, the seven or eight Serbs remaining in Žač (about twenty other returnees have temporarily retreated to northern Serbia due to previous attacks by Albanians) were in an adjacent half-destroyed house and with them were several KFOR soldiers (Slovenes) who, however, did nothing to stop the shooting nor begin the search for the perpetrators.

With the blessing of Bishop Atanasije, the administrator of the Diocese of Raška-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija, the Bishop's deputy, Vicar Bishop Teodosije, served in St. Basil of Ostrog Church with the concelebration of 13 priests and 3 deacons. Some 200 faithful took part in the Holy Liturgy, headed by Mayor Branko Ninić and other members of the municipal administration, who hosted today's celebration. In particular, there was a lot of children who took communion.

Bishop Teodosije delivered a homily on St. Basil of Ostrog and Tvrdoš as a saint who "celebrated and is celebrating God with his words and wonders, teaching us to be the sons of light and joy." The Bishop particularly emphasized that St. Basil was the model of the shepherd who gave up everything in order to receive everything from God "following the example of Christ, who did not came to bring a new science in this world, but with His life and works to serve as a living witness of the Father who sent Him, and to demonstrate that the mystery of love lies in the mystery of serving our neighbor." That is why, said Bishop, the whole of law is based on two commandments: to love God with all our being and to love our neighbors and sacrifice ourselves for them. In this, said the Bishop, lies the significance of the Church, which is a community of love where we live for each other, witnessing and therefore there is no salvation nor joy nor eternal union with Christ outside the Church.
 

A deficiency of intelligence and integrity, a surplus of petty pretentiousness and malice
Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church, 11 May 2010 - 13:20

Mirko Đorđević, self-proclaimed "religious analyst" (of the sort for whom only the code for semi-literate journalist applies), wrote a wretched, wicked article in Danas on 10 May 2010 (p. 6) entitled "A Surplus of Saints" in which he repeats yet again his vicious-stupid slandering of St. Nikolaj of Žiča, now also adding St. Justin the New of Ćelije, following his recent addition to the diptych of the saints, which was done at the recent convocation of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of our Church (not "his proclamation as a saint" by the "Synod of the SPC," as the unknowing know-it-all M.Đ. writes, in addition to a host of other lies and misinformation).
 

Today in the church of the Holy Great-Martyr George in Zvečan the patron saint's day of the church and of the town of Zvečan (which is celebrated on the first Sunday after the saint's feastday) was officially celebrated. Bishop Atanasije, the administrator of the Diocese of Raška-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija, served Holy Liturgy with the concelebration of ten priests, including the hegumen of Duboki Potok Monastery, protosyncellos Romilo, and the hegumen of Banjska Monastery, hieromonk Danilo. Some 200 faithful took part in the Holy Liturgy, among them representatives of Zvečan municipality. There were especially many children, who took communion. After the blessing of the slava bread, a banquet for those in attendance was prepared at a nearby restaurant.

After Liturgy in Zvečan, Bishop Atanasije and the priests visited the monasteries of Devine Vode (near Zvečan), Crna Reka and Duboki Potok. In all three monasteries the Bishop Abbot was received by the monastery administrators and brethren, who showed him hospitality as the competent bishop appointed by the Holy Assembly of Bishops. The Bishop stayed briefly in these monasteries, also conversing briefly with the monks.

Bishop Atanasije, the administrator of the Diocese of Raška-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija, took part this evening in a festal Vespers service in the church of the St. George in Zvečan and then attended a concert of childrens' and youth choirs, organized on the occasion of tomorrow's celebration of the patron saint's day of Zvečan, which is celebrated on the first Sunday after the feastday of this Saint. The Vespers service was attended by priests from the Mitrovica church administrative district and municipal representatives of the town of Zvečan.

Singing at the concert were a children's choir from Velika Hoča, the church choir from Novi Pazar, the children's choir of Kraljevo and St. George Choir from the town of Zvečan. The Bishop joined the children in singing old songs of Kosovo. Tomorrow Bishop Atanasije will be serving Holy Liturgy in the church of Zvečan, to be followed by the cutting of the slava bread.