New Gracanica News

On Sunday, August 29th 2010, in the church of the Holy Resurrection at Palmer Boulevard, Chicago, one of the oldest and most distinguished parishes of the Serbian Church in America, parish priest Father Cedomir Kostic was awarded by Bishop Longin with a pectoral cross after thirty eight years of faithful service to the Church of Christ. After Divine Liturgy a luncheon followed in the parish hall where some of the parishioners made a biographical speech and presentation about their pastor, mentioning [...continue reading]

On Saturday, the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos was celebrated at the New Gracanica Monastery. Kolo of Serbian Sisters celebrates Dormition of the Mother of God as their Krsna Slava. This year was the first time that the united Kolo celebrated their Slava as the Kolo of the Diocese of New Gracanica and Midwestern America. The Liturgy, the cutting of Slava bread and the festive lunch at the monastery hall all passed in a very pleasant atmosphere. Kumovi of [...continue reading]

On the morning of Tuesday, August 24th 2010, His Eminence Metropolitan Christopher of Libertyville and Chicago was laid to rest at the Saint Sava Monastery in Libertyville IL. Divine Liturgy started at 9 am and was served outside the church of the Saint Sava Monastery due to a large number of clergy and faithful attending the service. After the conclusion of the memorial Divine Liturgy, parastos was served and everyone present bode the Metropolitan farewell for the last time. He was [...continue reading]

Libertyville, Il. On Wednesday, August 18th 2010, at 7:45 pm Central time on the eve of the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, Metropolitan Christopher of Libertyville and Chicago passed away in the 82nd year of his life.

Funeral arrangements:

Monday, August 23rd 2010 – Hierarchal Divine Liturgy at 10 am in the Holy Resurrection Cathedral, 5701 N Redwood Drive, Chicago Il, 60631. Funeral service at 7 pm at the same location.

Tuesday, August 24th 2010 – Hierarchal Divine Liturgy at 9 am [...continue reading]

On Sunday, August 8th, in Shadeland PA, on the property of Saint Sava children’s camp, a new church was consecrated. Upon invitation on Bishop Mitrofan of the Eastern American Diocese of the SOC, Bishop Longin of the New Gracanica – Midwestern American Diocese participated in the consecration along with a few of the clerics of our diocese. Please view the photos from the [...continue reading]

On the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of the founding of Saint Basil of Ostrog church in Chisholm, MN, Bishop Longin made a hierarchal visit to this parish. Along with Bishop Longin, Hierarchal Liturgy was also served by Protopresbyter-stavrophor Bogdan Zjalic, Protopresbyter-stavrophor Rastko Trbuhovic, Priest Zoran Savic, Protopresbyter-stavrophor Radomir Nikcevic, Priest Slobodan Spasic, Deacon Paul Kiprov and Deacon Nikolaj Kostur.

For a full report on the festivities by the local media, please [...continue reading]

On Saturday, July 31st, this year’s session of Camp Gracanica closed. During the four weeks of camp this year, about 250 children stayed with us. This year, like every other year before, camp passed in the spirit of friendship, making new friends, fun and education, both cultural and spiritual. We thank all those who stayed with us and all those who worked in the camp this year, thus leaving a part of themselves in Camp Gracanica and in each other’s hearts.

We [...continue reading]

From Friday, July 9th, until Sunday, July 11th, Bishop Longin was in a pastoral visit to the Nativity of the Mother of God Monastery in New Carlisle, Indiana. On that occasion, the Bishop ordained Vladan Maric,  a student of the Saint Sava Seminary in Libertyville, Illinois. On Saturday, Vladan was ordained into the rank of deacon and on Sunday into priesthood. Bishop’s visit to the monastery and the ordination were both unto great spiritual joy of the faithful who always flock [...continue reading]

Camp Gracanica is continuing in a joyous atmosphere. On Monday, July 12th, Divine Liturgy was served at the monastery for the feast day of Saints Peter and Paul. At the Liturgy, which was served by Fr Archimandrite Thomas, director of Camp Gracanica, children from the camp sang hymns and responses to litanies. All of our children were able to partake of Holy Communion.

“O first enthroned among the apostles
and teachers of the whole world;
entreat the Master of all,
that He grant peace to [...continue reading]

On Wednesday, July 7th, the feast day of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, Divine Liturgy was served at the New Gracanica Monastery. Liturgy was served by Bishop Longin, several priests and a deacon, and the responses at the Liturgy were sung by the children of Camp Gracanica which started on Sunday. All of the children from the camp not only participated in the prayer but also took Holy Communion at the service.

Nativity of St. John the Baptist, Troparion, Tone [...continue reading]