In Kosovo, two US servicemen receive baptism in Serbian Orthodox Church

Bishop Hilarion and Americans who have embraced Orthodoxy. Photo: UOJ in Serbia

On Great Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the Draganac Monastery in Kosovo and Metohija, Bishop Hilarion of Novo Brdo performed the Baptism of two American military men serving at the Bondsteel military base near Uroševac, reports SPJ in Serbia. The newly baptized accepted the Orthodox faith and received the names Sava and Simeon, becoming members of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

The event attracted the attention of believers – the baptism of foreign armed forces servicemen specifically at one of the shrines of Kosovo and Metohija became a significant spiritual testimony.

The baptism on Great Saturday – a day that in Orthodox tradition carries deep symbolism of life's victory over death – additionally emphasized the spiritual meaning of this event and the personal choice of the newly baptized.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Patriarch of Serbia urged world leaders to protect Serbs in Kosovo.

Read also

Church celebrates feast of Holy Foremost Apostles Peter and Paul

On July 12, the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul, the Apostles' Fast (Peter's Fast) comes to an end for Orthodox Christians.

UGCC cleric criticizes OCU head for awarding Greek Catholic officials

Hieromonk Yustyn Boiko of the Lviv Archeparchy called the awarding of church honors to officials a profanation and cited the example of an OCU order presented to a Greek Catholic official.

Expert who found no defamation in Dumenko’s remarks to face disciplinary action

An Interior Ministry research center has confirmed disciplinary measures against the expert whose findings supported what the Metropolitan’s representatives described as unfounded accusations by the OCU head against Metropolitan Theodosiy.

European Parliament condemns forced Islamization of children in Pakistan

The European Parliament has called on Pakistan to establish a mechanism to protect Christian families.

Church of the Presentation damaged by shelling in Russia’s Kursk Region

The newly built church in the village of Kulbaki, Glushkovo District, was completely gutted by fire after being struck by a projectile.

UOC priests take part in celebrations at Romania’s Putna Monastery

Clergy of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy took part in a festive service at the ancient shrine of the Romanian Orthodox Church.