70th anniversary of Saint Nikolaj Velimirović's repose marked in Serbia

On March 15, 2026, during the Week of the Veneration of the Cross of Great Lent, celebrations were held at the Monastery of St. Nikolaj of Serbia, located in Soko Grad near Ljubovija (Western Serbia), on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the repose of St. Nikolaj Velimirović. The festive Divine Liturgy was led by hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church, reports the press service of the SOC.

The divine service was celebrated by Metropolitan Chrysostom of Dabar-Bosnia and Metropolitan John of Šumadija, Bishops Isychius of Valjevo and Hierotheos of Šabac, concelebrated by the clergy and monastics from various dioceses. Many faithful also prayed at the service.

In his sermon, Metropolitan Chrysostom noted that Saint Nikolaj, who reposed in emigration in Pennsylvania, America, despite the distance, always remained with his people in prayers and spiritual concerns for Serbia's fate during times of atheism and communism. He emphasized that the Church glorified Bishop Nikolaj as a great hierarch and spiritual guide of the Serbian people.

After the liturgy, Bishop Hierotheos thanked the hierarchs, clergy, and faithful for their joint prayer. He also recalled the contribution of the ever-memorable Bishop Lavrentije (Trifunović), who dedicated his life to preserving the legacy of Saint Nikolaj, collecting and publishing his works, and also built the monastery at Soko Grad, which became a spiritual monument to the great Serbian saint.

At the conclusion of the celebration, Metropolitan John blessed the festive offerings, after which a cultural program took place with the participation of schoolchildren, poets, and performers of Serbian folk epics.

As the UOJ wrote, the Patriarch of Serbia called on world leaders to protect Serbs in Kosovo.