Belgrade, 1 August 2024 (MIA) - The first liturgy in Macedonian language by a Macedonian priest will be held tomorrow for the first time at the St. Prophet Elijah orthodox church in the village Jabuka near the municipality of Panchevo, Serbia, at the request of the Macedonian community in Serbia, MIA reports from Belgrade.

Hieromonk Dionisij Bogoev from the Berkasovo Monastery of Diocese of Srem will hold the liturgy, for which he has received the blessing of the competent bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC), bishop Vasilij of the Diocese of Srem, and bishop Nikanor of the Eparchy of Banat, as the head of the St. Prophet Elijah church in Jabuka, the source of the largest Macedonian community in Serbia.

"This historical act of the first liturgy in Macedonian in Serbia will be held at the initiative of the National Council of the Macedonian national minority in the Republic of Serbia, after many months of efforts and at the request of the Macedonian community, and  with a blessing from the Head of the Macedonian Orthodox Church-Ohrid Archbishopric (MOC-OA), HH Stefan, as a result of the cooperation between MOC-OA and SOC," Macedonian National Council Secretary, Marjan Jovanovki, said on Thursday.

The historic first liturgy in Macedonian in Jabuka, Serbia will be held within the frameworks of the commemoration of August 2, which is recognized as a national holiday for the Macedonian minority in Serbia, with the laying of fresh flowers at the Goce Delhev monument in the primary school that carries his name, and a solemn session at the Macedonian National Council.

So far several joint liturgies and services have been held in Serbia with congregations from both churches, but this is the first time an independent liturgy by a Macedonian priest in Macedonian will be held at SOC. ssh/ba/

Photo: Macedonian community in Serbia