12.10.2020.

Order of Saint Simeon the Myrrh-Gusher awarded to the Guard of the Serbian Armed Forces

Today, the Military Bishop of Niš Arsenije presented high decorations with which the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church and His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia decorated the Guard of the Serbian Armed Forces and its members, in the "Dedinje" barracks in Belgrade.

On the occasion of the 190th anniversary of the foundation of the Guard, and as an expression of appreciation for the tremendous effort put in arranging and equipping the military chapel in that unit, but also in creating conditions for the promotion and growth of moral and spiritual values founded on Orthodox tradition, Serbian Patriarch Irinej awarded The Order of Saint Simeon the Myrrh-Gusher to the Guard of the Serbian Armed Forces and the Commander of the Guard, Major General Milomir Todorović.

Members of the Guard – Lieutenant Colonels Vladimir Vukajlović and Nenad Mitrović, Captain Vladimir Milovanović and Sergeant Majors Goran Kalajdžija and Predrag Vasić were awarded the Patriarchal Charters.

With the blessing of Patriarch Irinej, Lieutenant Colonel Sladjan Vlajić, the Chief of Chaplains of the Serbian Armed Forces serving in the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces and Major Stevan Stevanović, a military chaplain serving in the Guard, were promoted to the rank of Archpriest for outstanding work on the development and improvement of religious service in the Serbian Armed Forces as well as for exemplary and responsible execution of military duties.

The award-ceremony was preceded by the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy which was served on St. Michael’s Day in the chapel of the Holy Great Martyr George by the Military Bishop of Niš Arsenije and Bishop of Remesiana, the Vicar of Patriarch Irinej.

General Todorović pointed out that this year the Guard is celebrating a great jubilee – its 190th anniversary and expressed gratitude to the Serbian Orthodox Church for having decided to decorate that unit.

- On the occasion of the anniversary and the construction of a magnificent place of worship, the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church has decorated the Guard, me and five members of this unit. The Serbian Orthodox Church and the Serbian Armed Forces enjoy great trust of the citizens of our country, and in this way we show the connection between the two institutions that are the pillars of our state and preserve our identity - said the Commander of the Guard.

The Military Bishop of Niš Arsenije emphasized the cooperation between the Church and the Armed Forces and said that these two institutions enjoy the greatest trust of the Serbian people.

- The Armed Forces and the Church have always been with their people. The Church, as an institution, within its earthly boundaries, has existed for 800 years in this area and has always been a pillar and support to our people. In difficult times and in all wars, the Church was always with its people, as well as our Armed Forces. That is why the Armed Forces and the Church are two pillars of the Serbian state and Serbian statehood, and they instill the greatest trust in people, so our cooperation is extremely important - said the Bishop of Niš Arsenije.

Today’s ceremony was attended by Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, Major General Petar Cvetković, Head of the Human Resources Department of the General Staff, Brigadier General Savo Iriškić, Commander of the Central Logistics Base, Brigadier General Petar Latković, Head of the Department for Tradition, Standard and Veterans, Colonel Duško Šljivančanin and Head of the Religious Service Section Saša Milutinović, PhD.