Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, December 25, 2023
Photo: easterndiocese.org
A new Serbian Orthodox church is under construction in the Dominican Republic.
On Sunday, December 17, His Grace Bishop Irinej of the Serbian Church’s Diocese of Eastern America visited Punta Cana to consecrate the foundation stone of the Holy Transfiguration Church, which is also the first Serbian Orthodox church in the Caribbean, the diocese reports.
The church is modeled after the Hercegovačka Gračanica Monastery in Trebinje, Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a crypt dedicated to Holy Prince Lazar and St. Alexander Nevsky.
Photo: easterndiocese.org
“This project was realized by the combined efforts of the people of this region and contributions from all over the world. The joyous event was attended by about 150 believers - Serbs, Russians, Ukrainians, Bulgarians, Romanians, and Dominicans. The echo of this gathering was also experienced in various liturgical languages: Church Slavonic, Serbian, Russian, English, Greek and Spanish, which graced the Eucharistic assemblage,” the diocese writes.
The construction of the church is seen as a continuation of the ministry of the ever-memorable Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro, who launched the Serbian Orthodox mission in the Caribbean and South and Central America in 2012. Bp. Irinej wore a set of vestments belonging to Met. Amfilohije for blessed event.
Photo: easterndiocese.org
After consecrating the foundation stone, Bp. Irinej placed a capsule with the church charter in the foundation, and all the faithful were invited to place a stone inscribed with their names.
The event was attended by benefactors and well-wishers from around the world.
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