The hierarchical Liturgy was presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Longin of New Gracanica- Chicago and Metropolitan of the Midwestern America. His eminence was concelebrated by the most venerable Archimandrites Metodije (Marković), abbot of Hilandar and Sergije (Puškar), as well as the clergy of our diocese.
In addition to Saints Sergije and Baccha, today we also celebrated the jubilee of His Eminence Metropolitan Longin, who marked the fortieth anniversary of his episcopal ministry (he was consecrated by the Serbian Patriarch German on October 20, 1985 as Vicar Bishop of Moravia).
On this occasion, Metropolitan Longinus elevated Priest Petar Sailović to the rank of protopriest, awarding him with the nabesrenik.
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, with the blessing of Metropolitan Longin, the abbot of the Imperial Lavra of Hilandar, archimandrite Metodije , read a prayer before the relics of St. Mardarije, after which he addressed the faithful and took the opportunity to congratulate His Eminence Metropolitan Longin on his jubilee by presenting him with an icon of the Most Holy Mother God of the Three Hands.
The Metropolitan thanked all present for there well wishes and then addressed the faithful with a sermon.
After the distribution of antidoron to those present, all those gathered with their anrchpastor and clergy continued the celebration in the monastery hall of the New Gracanica monastery with a common lunch.
