Russian Church hierarchs take part in commemorative events dedicated to prominent Serbian theologian Bishop Atanasije (Jevtić)

DECR Communication Service, 24/02/2025

On 20^th – 23^rd February 2025, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ and at the invitation of Metropolitan Dimitrije of Zahumlje and Herzegovina, Metropolitan Amvrosy of Tver and Kashin and Metropolitan Zinovy of Saransk and Mordovia visited the holy sites of the Serbian Orthodox Church and took part in the events marking the 4^th anniversary of the passing away of Bishop Atanasije (Jevtić), Press Service of the Tver Diocese reports.

On 20^th February, the two hierarchs visited the ancient Church of the Holy Trinity in Budva and the Cetinje Monastery, where they had a brotherly meeting with Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro and the Littoral.

Later that day, Metropolitans Amvrosy and Zinovy attended the evening service in the main cathedral of the Diocese of Montenegro and the Littoral. After the service, Metropolitan Amvrosy celebrated a memorial litiya in the crypt where Metropolitan Amfilohije (Radović) is buried. The hierarchs also visited the Church of St Sava and an Orthodox high school of the Diocese of Montenegro and the Littoral, which are being constructed in Podgorica.

On 21^st February, Metropolitans Amvrosy and Zinovy visited the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral in Trebinje and were warmly received by Metropolitan Dimitrije of Zahumlje and Herzegovina. Then the two archpastors undertook a pilgrimage to Prebilovci. There they prayed at the Prebilovci massacre site, where several thousands of Orthodox Serbians had been killed by the Nazi and the Ustaše. They also visited the Žitomislić Monastery of the Holy Annunciation, where in 1941 the Ustaše had killed all monks, and the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Mostar.

On 22^nd February, Memorial Saturday of Meatfare, Metropolitans Amvrosy and Zinovy prayed at the Divine Liturgy and the memorial service, and partook of the Holy Mysteries of Christ in the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Mostar. After the Liturgy, the hierarchs visited a monastery built at the site of St. Basil of Ostrog’s house, and the Tvrdoš Monastery.

In the evening, they attended a commemorative event that marked the 4^th anniversary of the death of Bishop Atanasije (Jevtić).

The meeting was opened by a documentary film about that remarkable Serbian theologian. Among those who shared their reminiscences of Bishop Atanasije were Metropolitan Amvrosy of Tver and Kashin, Bishop Kirilo of Buenos Aires and South and Central America (Serbian Orthodox Church), and Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov). Metropolitan Zinovy of Saransk and Mordovia spoke about his impressions after reading Bishop Atanasije’s works. Metropolitan Dimitrije of Zahumlje and Herzegovina delivered an address at the conclusion of the meeting. Among those who attended the commemorative event were hierarchs, abbots, clergymen, monastics and laypeople from various countries.

On 23^rd February, Sunday of Meatfare, of the Last Judgement, Metropolitan Amvrosy of Tver and Kashin officiated at the Divine Liturgy in the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral in Trebinje. Attending the service were about a thousand worshippers. Concelebrating with Metropolitan Amvrosy were Metropolitans Joanikije of Montenegro and the Littoral, Zinovy of Saransk and Mordovia, Grigorije of Düsseldorf and Germany and Dimitrije of Zahumlje and Herzegovina, as well as Archbishop Maxim of Western America, Bishop Mark of Delčevo and Makedonska Kamenica (Macedonian Orthodox Church – Ohrid Archbishopric), Bishop Kirilo of Buenos Aires, and Bishop Metodije of Budimlja and Nikšić. Among the concelebrants were also clergymen of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia and the Macedonian Orthodox Church – Ohrid Archbishopric.

The Prayer Behind the Ambo was followed by a requiem litiya for Bishop Atanasije (Jevtić). After the dismissal, Metropolitan Amvrosy delivered a homily.

Later that day, at the Tvrdoš Monastery, the memorial service was celebrated at the burial place of Bishop Atanasije. It was followed by a commemorative repast.

Metropolitans Amvrosy and Zinovy expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Metropolitan Dimitrije of Zahumlje and Herzegovina for the invitation and warm hospitality.