01.09.2024.
Minister Gašić attends consecration of Church of Holy Prophet Elijah
Today, Minister of Defence Bratislav Gašić attended the consecration of the new Church of the Holy Prophet Elijah in the village of Sitnica, Municipality of Ribnik, Republika Srpska.
Bishop Jovan of Pakrac-Slavonija concelebrated the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy with Bishop Ilarion of Novo Brdo, vicar of the Serbian Patriarch - Porfirije, and Bishop Sergije of Bihać-Petrovac.On that occasion, Minister Gašić accepted an award on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Serbia from the Eparchy of Bihać-Petrovac and Rmanj in recognition of the assistance provided in building the church.
The consecration of the church and the Divine Liturgy were attended by the President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik, Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željka Cvijanović, Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia Aleksandar Vulin and numerous citizens.In his address, Bishop Sergije emphasized that “throughout the centuries, the people have persevered in true faith, hope and love, striving to preserve their holy Orthodox faith”.
- Therefore, today we give thanks first and foremost to God, who has blessed us with this day, to rejoice in it, because for us this is a great day, because we have consecrated a new church where the secret of all secrets, love of all loves, hope of all hopes, faith of all faiths will be offered - emphasized Bishop Sergije and expressed his gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Serbia for helping finish the construction of this church.
The construction of the new church in Sitnica began in 2008, and on the Feast Day of the Holy Prophet Elijah in 2009, the foundations were consecrated by the then bishops - Chrysostom of Bihać-Petrovac, and the deceased Lukijan of Osijek Polje-Baranja.