06.08.2017.
Installation of the Bishop of Mileševa Atanasije
In the Monastery of Mileševa, Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin attended the official installation of the Bishop of Mileševa Eparchy Atanasije, hitherto the Bishop of Bihać and Petrovac.
The programme for the installation of the new bishop started yesterday with official wake, and continued by the hierarchical Divine Liturgy presided by His Holiness the Patriarch of Serbia Irinej and served by the bishops of Serbian Orthodox Church.
- The military is the keeper of our people’s tradition; the military is the guardian of all values that made Serbia what it is; a country to be proud of. Of course, our church is also there. The military and church have common tasks, to maintain those most progressive and most significant values that have enabled our people to last over all these centuries. In two year time we will celebrate the eight centuries of the existence of Mileševa monastery. Serbian military and Serbian church will safeguard its people, they will keep the memory of what we were like, but also work on what we are yet to be in order to be worthy of the memory of our ancestors. The military pays much attention to chaplain’s service. All religions have their representatives in our Armed Forces and all the believers have an opportunity to lead their religious life while they are in the military. Serbian Orthodox Church and Islamic Community and Roman Catholic Church have every opportunity and every occasion to exercise their religious rights with their followers. Serbian Orthodox Church is an important segment of the Serbian Armed Forces which enables continuing religious life in the military as well. Serbian Orthodox Church enjoys great respect of the Serbian Armed Forces and it will always enjoy it – Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin said in the port of Mileševa monastery.
After the Divine Liturgy a cultural and artistic programme was prepared in the port of the monastery in Mileševa followed by the “Feast of Love” attended by all the guests and the people of the Eparchy.
Atanasije (Rakita) is the fourth Bishop of Mileševa Eparchy. Before him the Eparchy was led by Georgije Đokić (1992-1997), Vasilije Veinović (1994-1997), the departed Patriarch of Serbia Pavle – administrator (1997-1999), Filaret Mićević (1999-2015), Bishop of Budimlje and Nikšić Joanikije – administrator (2015-2017).
