On Tuesday, October 13, 2009, His Grace Bishop LONGIN of New Gracanica and Midwestern America accompanied His Eminence Metropolitan NIKOLAJ of Dabro-Bosnia on a visit to the Nativity of the Mother of God Stavropigial Monastery in New Carlisle, Indiana.  His Eminence Metropolitan NIKOLAJ served Divine Hierarchical Liturgy with Archimandrite Gavrilo and Deacon Mitar Tanackovic.  Following the Divine Liturgy, His Eminence Metropolitan NIKOLAJ and His Grace Bishop LONGIN visited several parishes of the Diocese of New Gracanica and Midwestern America in Northwest Indiana, including St. Sava and St. Elijah Churches in Merrillville, St. George Church in Schererville, and St. George Church in East Chicago, the oldest church building in the Diocese.  His Eminence and His Grace were warmly recieved by the local clergy of the parishes.

At 5:00pm, His Eminence Metropolitan NIKOLAJ and His Grace Bishop LONGIN met with His Grace Bishop Dr. MITROPHAN of Eastern America at New Gracanica Monastery, where they attended the All-Night Vigil for the Monastery Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God.  Following the service, the Hierarchs shared a meal in the Monastery Hall with the visiting clergy and guests who had come to participate in the Slava Celebration.

On Wednesday, October 14, 2009, His Grace Bishop LONGIN of New Gracanica and Midwestern America welcomed His Eminence Metropolitan CHRISTOPHER of Libertyville and Chicago, His Eminence Metropolitan NIKOLAJ of Dabro-Bosnia, and His Grace Bishop Dr. MITROPHAN of Eastern America.  The Hierarchs served Divine Liturgy accompanied by four deacons and eighteen priests.  After the Hierarchs vested, His Grace Bishop Dr. MITROPHAN of Eastern America tonsured Radomir Plavsic of Grayslake, Illinois, graduate of Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, New York (B.Th.) and St. Vladimir Seminary in Crestwood, New York (M.A.), to the rank of Reader.  His Grace Bishop MITROPHAN also ordained Marko Bojovic of Indianapolis, Indiana, graduate of St. Vladimir Seminary in Crestwood, New York (M.Div.), to the rank of Sub-Deacon.  His Eminence Metropolitan NIKOLAJ delivered a sermon on the importance of the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God in the Serbian Orthodox Tradition and the role of the Mother of God in our spiritual life, as our Protectress.  The Slava Litija proceeded the Divine Liturgy, followed by a Slava Luncheon in the Monastery Hall.  During the luncheon, a donation was presented to His Grace Bishop LONGIN by Archpriest-Stavrophor Uros Ocokoljic on behalf of Mr. Ljubomir Penezic of Aurora, Illinois for the Cathedral of St. Sava on Vracar in the amount of $100,000, the fourth check in this amount by Mr. Penezic, making him the largest donor to the building of the Cathedral of St. Sava on Vracar.  Also, a donation of $20,000 was presented to New Gracanica Monastery by Archpriest Marko Matic on behalf of the late Mr. Mile Kosanovic, who willed his estate to St. Sava Church in Merrillville, Indiana, with this specific amount to New Gracanica Monastery.