Стаза Православља THE PATH OF ORTHODOXY THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH IN NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA VOLUME 48 APRIL 2013 NO. 01 EASTERN DIOCESE ASSEMBLES IN LEBANON, PA The Annual Assembly of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese Liturgies and many vigils, matins and vespers. He participated work continues on attempting to sell the present diocesan of Eastern America took place at Holy Resurrection of Christ in meetings of the Holy Assembly of Bishops, the Episcopal center in Mars, PA in order to move it to the New York City Serbian Orthodox Church in Lebanon, PA March 1-2. Clergy, and Central Church Councils, the Diocesan Council, the area, as directed by the Holy Assembly of Bishops, but that congregation board presidents and delegates representing Shadeland Committee and Education Committee, and many due to present housing market conditions this has not yet 35 parishes of the Diocese and the Diocesan Federation of other meetings, in addition to his duties teaching at the St. been possible. Circles of Serbian Sisters met to discuss the life and work of Sava School of Theology in Libertyville, IL. On material and financial matters, His Grace reported that the Diocese under the presidency of work is progressing well on church their archpastor, His Grace Bishop buildings in Orlando FL, Charlotte Dr. Mitrophan. NC, Miami FL and Washington The meeting began on Friday DC. The cemetery at Monastery evening with a 6:00 PM service Marcha was opened, and fresco invoking the guidance of the Holy work has begun there. Fresco Spirit upon the Assembly and the work continues in Hermitage blessing of the gathering by Bishop PA, and is nearly complete in Mitrophan. Following dinner, the Lackawanna NY. Land has been business of the meeting began in the purchased for a church in Atlanta, church hall. Diocesan Board Vice and the Boston parish has paid off President Rudley Mrvos, with the its million- dollar mortgage in just blessing of His Grace, handled the seven years. duties of chairing the meeting. V. Bishop Mitrophan went on Rev. Rajko Kosic of the credentials to discuss the importance of both committee reported that there were clergy and church boards to be 81 official participants present. diligent in their oversight and His Grace Bishop Dr. Mitrophan stewardship of church finances, presented his report on the life and and to ensure that everything work of the Diocese over the past is done within the framework year. His Grace began by observing of church discipline and good that this year is a double jubilee: the financial and accounting practices. 1700th anniversary of the Edict of He stressed that such practices Milan, which legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire, He reported on the reception of three priests into the now will prevent any future financial scandals as have and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Eastern diocese from other dioceses, the ordination of Sinisa Duvnjak occurred in some other religious organizations. He also American Diocese. He called for appropriate observances to the Holy Diaconate and of Protodeacon Milan Medakovich reported that the Diocese still has a lack of proper contact with within the Diocese to mark both these events. to the Holy Priesthood, a number of clerical moves and a few parishes of the former New Gracanica Metropolitanate His many activities included serving 124 Divine changes, and the granting of retirement to two priests, now in the Diocese, but that he hopes this situation will be Protopresbyter-Stavrophors Toma Stojsic from the parish in regularized. Paterson, NJ and Dragan Filipovic from the parish in Canton, Finally, His Grace mentioned a recent incident at an OH. Two priests were given canonical releases to other airport he found important. First, a young woman approached Gerich named Chairman dioceses. His Grace remembered Protopresbyter-Stavrophor him and asked if he was an Orthodox priest. On learning Janko Rajlich, who fell asleep in the Lord suddenly in April, he was, she identified herself as Russian Orthodox. A few of FOCUS and his long service at Holy Trinity Church in Youngstown, minutes later, a man approached him with the same question. as well as his long service as member of the Diocesan Court The man told His Grace that he had been a Protestant North America and as Dean of the Cleveland Deanery. He reported that the missionary to Europe, but that when he came into contact Diocese currently has 44 parishes, two missions, 41 active with Orthodoxy he realized he had found the true and original, priests, two deacons, one hieromonk and two nuns, three unchanged Christianity and became Orthodox, and currently priests without parishes and 13 pensioned clergy. Four headed a mission parish in Canada. Bishop Mitrophan went parishes are currently vacant, and steps are being taken to on to remind the Assembly that Orthodoxy and the Gospel fill those. He also reported on successful church camps held are meant for everyone, the whole world, and not just for at Shadeland, PA and in Jacksonville, FL. He reported that continued on p. 4 SERBIAN CHURCH AT PAPAL INAUGURATION Rome, March 20 (SPC Info Brian Gerich, Senior Vice President of Public Storage Service)—The Serbian Orthodox Church and a well-known Orthodox philanthropist, has been joined many of the sister Orthodox named the new Chairman of the Board of Directors for Churches in sending representatives FOCUS North America. Gerich succeeds Charles Ajalat, who completed a four-year chairmanship in January 2013. to the inauguration of Pope Francis “FOCUS is a dynamic ministry and an expression of in Rome on March 19. Representing Christ’s love — offering jobs, housing, feeding programs, the Serbian Patriarchate was His and other human services to the homeless and working Eminence Metropolitan Amphilochije poor of America,” said Gerich, “FOCUS also plays a of Montenegro and the Coastlands, who vital role in bringing Orthodox Christians into direct presented the new Pope with an icon of relationship with the poor, positively impacting their own lives while helping those in need.” the Blessed Virgin Mary on behalf of the Under Ajalat’s leadership as founder and first Serbian Patriarch. Ecumenical Patriarch board chairman, FOCUS grew into a vibrant and strong Bartholomew was present on behalf organization with eight flagship FOCUS centers across of his Patriarchate, and the Moscow the country and a dedicated volunteer corps of more than Patriarchate was represented by His 6,000 people. In 2013, FOCUS has forecasted an annual budget of $10 million, with service outreach programs Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion. planned for 29 cities. continued on p. 2 IN THIS ISSUE: • Obituaries, p. 3 • News frOm KOsOvO, p. 5 • Our view, pp. 6-7 • serbiaN sectiON, pp. 8-12 • page twO THE PATH OF ORTHODOXY april 2013 FOCUS the path Of OrthOdOxy THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH Expands to IN NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA Cleveland EDITORIAL Staff English Section Editors Serbian Editor The St. Herman House V. Rev. Rade Merick, Senior Editor V. Rev. Nedeljko Lunich of Hospitality in Cleveland, 530 North Fourth Street 300 Stryker Ave Ohio is now owned and Steubenville, OH 43952 Joliet, IL 60437 operated by FOCUS North email:[email protected] Fax: 815-741-1883 America. The renamed St email: [email protected] Herman’s House FOCUS V. Rev. Milovan Katanic Cleveland offers important 65 South Keel Ridge Road Contributing Editor feeding and shelter services Hermitage, PA 16148 V. Rev. Thomas Kazich to the homeless and working Phone:724-342-1198 P.O. Box 371, email: [email protected] poor in Cleveland, Ohio. St. Grayslake, IL 60030-0371 Herman’s FOCUS Cleveland V. Rev. Dr. Bratislav Krsic Phone: (847) 223-4300 is open 365 days a year and 3025 Denver Street provides three meals per day to San Diego, CA 92117 Technical Editor anyone in need. In addition, St. Phone: 619-276-5827 Vesna R. Meinert Herman’s FOCUS Cleveland email: [email protected] email: [email protected] is an important point of service St. Herman’s House on Cleveland’s near west side for Cleveland’s Ohio City is the latest center of activity for FOCUS North America, Business and Circulation Address neighborhood. The Center a national movement of Orthodox Christians united The Path of Orthodoxy provides housing, clothing, to provide solutions to poverty in communities across P. O. Box 883 and showers for homeless men America. Bridgeport, WV 26330 as well as grocery distributions for single Originally founded as an Orthodox email: [email protected] mothers and families. monastery over 30 years ago, St Herman’s “The door is open and this ministry House offers vital support to those in need The Path of Orthodoxy is a monthly publication with a double issue printed for the months of July and August. Subscriptions are $12.50 per year for U.S. residents and $15.00 belongs to everyone,” FOCUS Cleveland through an Orthodox context: A beautiful per year (U.S. funds only) for Canadian subsribers. Center Director Paul Finley said, “We Orthodox chapel stands at the front of the actively collaborate with area parishes and facility where prayer services and Liturgies Letters to the editor are welcomed and encouraged. All letters and manuscripts sub- community organizations to transform lives.” are offered regularly with the support of mitted for publication must be signed and contain the author's name and address. Please In 2012, St Herman’s House FOCUS the Greater Cleveland Orthodox Clergy send materials through email or MS Word format. Cleveland provided sustainable housing for Brotherhood. 100 homeless men while serving 66,728 Finley spoke of a young man who meals to homeless and working poor regularly attends the 6am breakfast at the families in Cleveland.