Amatitlán, Guatemala, November 13, 2024
Holy Trinity Monastery in Guatemala. Photo: iglesiaortodoxaserbiasca.org
The ruling Serbian hierarch of the Diocese of South and Central America visited Guatemala last week. During his stay, a clergy synaxis was held, and a nun was tonsured at the Holy Trinity Monastery outside Guatemala City.
His Grace Bishop Kirilo was greeted at La Aurora Airport on November 5 by Abbess Inés with other sisters of the monastery and children from the attached Hogar Rafael Ayau orphanage, reports the Diocese of South and Central America.
In the following days, a fraternal meeting of diocesan priests was held, with conferences presided over by Bp. Kirilo on the topic of the Church’s mission in Spanish-speaking territories, the Church’s challenges in modern times, and the need for firm witness to the true faith always grounded in the Holy Gospel and teachings of the Holy Fathers.
Photo: iglesiaortodoxaserbiasca.org
On November 7, Archimandrite Rafailo (Čeprnjić), Dean for Ecuador and Peru, arrived together with two of his spiritual children, Vladimir and Dragana, who after being novices for several years, received monastic tonsure and were given the names Lazar and Maria, after Lazarus of the Four Days, who was resurrected by Christ the Lord, and his sister Maria, who sat at Jesus’ feet listening to his teaching.
On the feast of the Great Martyr Demetrios, Divine Liturgy was served at the monastery, during which Monk Lazar was ordained to the diaconate. Hierodeacon Lazar is of Inca descent and will serve the Church in his homeland of Peru.
On Saturday, November 9, the feast of the Holy Great Martyr Nestor, His Grace Bishop Kirilo presided over the Divine Liturgy at the monastery. He was concelebrated by Hierodeacon Lazar, Protopresbyter Edward Carillo from the Orthodox Church in America, and other clergy.
During the Divine Liturgy, two young who actively help the Church in Costa Rica were tonsured as readers. Then Hierodeacon Lazar was elevated to the priesthood. He will be in charge of the Serbian Orthodox mission in Peru under the guidance of his spiritual father Archimandrite Rafail.
Photo: iglesiaortodoxaserbiasca.org
On Sunday, November 10, the feast of St. Arsenije of Srem, Archbishop of Serbia, Bp. Kirilo celebrated the Divine Liturgy with Bishop Osios of Guatemala, the newly consecrated first bishop of Mayan descent in the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
The Divine Liturgy was served at the Holy Trinity Monastery on the shores of Lake Amatitlán. On this occasion, Abbess Inés was awarded the diocesan Order of Sts. Peter and Paul for her contribution to missionary work in Guatemala.
The same order was awarded to Archimandrite Rafail in recognition of building the first Serbian Orthodox church and monastery in Ecuador.
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