Trebinje, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska, September 6, 2021
Abp. Juraj (center), Bp. Jovan (left), Bp. Dimitrije (right). Photo: eparhija-zahumskohercegovacka.com
Hierarchs of the historically-connected Serbian and Czech-Slovak Orthodox Churches came together on Saturday to celebrate the feast of a great 20th-century hierarch who was martyred for Christ nearly eight decades ago.
The feast of St. Gorazd of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia was celebrated at Holy Transfiguration Cathedral in Trebinje, Bosnia and Herzegovina, by His Eminence Archbishop Juraj of Michalovce and Košice of the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia and His Grace Bishop Jovan of Pakrac and Slavonia, and the local ruling hierarch, His Grace Bishop Dimitrije of Zahumlje, Herzegovina and the Littoral, both of the Serbian Orthodox Church, reports the Diocese of Zahumlje.
The hierarchs were also joined by local clergy and the faithful of the Trebinje region. His Eminence Metropolitan Jovan of Ohrid of the Serbian Church was also present for the Divine services.
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Following the reading of the Holy Gospel, Abp. Juraj addressed the faithful, emphasizing that the Churches of Serbia and of the Czech Lands and Slovakia are connected by many historical ties, one of the most important of which is the missionary labors of Sts. Cyril and Methodius.
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The territory of the current Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia was part of the Serbian Church at the time that St. Gorazd lived and suffered for Christ, and the Churches have maintained a close connection. St. Gorazd was canonized by the Serbian Church in 1961 and by the Czech-Slovak Church in 1987.
Saturday also marked the 10th anniversary of the episcopal ministry of Met. Jovan.
Learn more about St. Gorazd in the article, “A Twentieth-Century Western Orthodox Missionary.”
In February 2020, Abp. Juraj joined His Eminence Archbishop Michael of Prague and His Grace Bishop Isihije of Mohács of the Serbian Orthodox Church for the glorification of several martyrs who were companions of St. Gorazd.
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