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the Episcopal Council will recommend
the current archimandrite in Buenos Aires
be elected bishop at the next Assembly of
Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church,
so that this diocese receive a bishop. All in
attendance enthusiastically welcomed His
Eminence’s report and address.
Reporting on the state in the Diocese
of Canada were Fr. Jovan Marjanac and V.
Rev. Vasilije Tomic, the Episcopal Deputy.
Members of the council listened attentively
to the report and offered their wishes that
the situation in the Diocese of Canada
improve.
V. Rev. Malich presented his report
on the Pension Fund. There are 90 priests
in the pension fund, of which two are
inactive. Church school congregations are
obligated to pay premiums for their priest,
which is a decision of the Church Sabor. It
was also decided that the minimum clergy
salary be $2,500, and that church school
congregations are required to pay life
insurance for their priest.
V. Rev. Milovan Katanic submitted
the report on clergy health insurance. Only
14 priests are in the Orthodox Health Plan
while the remainder, due to high premiums,
is insured through different insurance
companies.
The editorial board of The Path of
Orthodoxy submitted its written report. The
Path of Orthodoxy is published four times
a year in a magazine format. Expenses are
significantly lowered, since the publication
used to be published monthly.
His Grace Bishop Mitrophan, Dean
of the St. Sava School of Theology in
Libertyville, submitted his report of the work
of the school and the financial situation.
The school is functioning regularly in full
capacity. Since September 2015 the school
has been temporarily transferred to New
Gracanica Monastery. In the meantime, the
building in Libertyville will be renovated.
The church council administers over
the Zivadinovic Trust Fund out of which
fund the central treasury is paid $10,000.
V. Rev. Nikola Ceko, director of
the Standing Committees, submitted his
report of the work of the committees in the
previous year. Fr. Nikola was recognized
for his work with the committees that
perform the missions of our Church on this
continent.
The 2016 Budget was presented and
approved.
Thus, the meeting of the Central
Council ended on a positive note, with the
hopes that greater effort will be given for
spiritual growth in our holy Orthodox Faith.
V. Rev. Stavrophor Nedeljko Lunich
Celebration of the Newly Glorified
St. Bishop Mardarije
The Holy Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served on Saturday, December 12,
on the feast day of St. Mardarije of Libertyville and America-Canada at St. Sava
Monastery in Libertyville. His Eminence Metropolitan Amphilohije of Montenegro
and Coastlands officiated with the concelebration of His Grace Bishop Longin of
New Gracanica and Midwestern America, His Grace Bishop Mitrophan of Eastern
America, His Grace Bishop Maxim of Western America, His Grace Bishop Jovan
of Slavonia and His Grace Bishop Sava, retired bishop of Slavonia, together with
the concelebration of 30 clergy. In attendance was also His Grace Bishop Peter of
the Russian Church Abroad and twenty other priests. Singing the responses was the
New Gracanica choir under the direction of Marija Savic, assisted by singers from
the greater Chicago parishes. The Divine Liturgy was magnificent indeed, filled with
the spiritual presence of St. Mardarije, the first Serbian bishop of America-Canada,
who dedicated himself to the construction of St. Sava monastery, becoming its
benefactor. He sacrificed himself in completing this deed and among the chronicles
it is written of him, “In buildng the church he is dying of hunger...”. Those were
truly difficult years of depression in America. It is said that in all of greater Chicago
only the post office and St. Sava Monasteyr in Libertyville were being constructed.
The church was filled with faithful, so that all of them could not fit, but were
in the church courtyard. There were nearly 300 in attendance at the Divine Liturgy.
At the Divine Liturgy Bishop Longin first greeted everyone, expressing the
significance of this day, when we commemorate the greater laborer and we can
freely say martyr, St. Mardarije. He thanked the bishops and clergy who took part in
this beautiful celebration.
Metropolitan Amphilohije delivered the homily. He spoke of St. Mardarije, his
life, in praise of this Saint. His beautiful words fell like fragrance on the hearts of
those in attendance. Some even wept. And how could they not for this was very
exciting. For, we Serbs give this country Saints, who will stand before the throne of
God and pray for all of us, as well as the American people.
Continued on Page 12
The Path of Orthodoxy Winter 2016 • 9