A great man is one who collects knowledge the way a bee collects honey and uses it to help people overcome the difficulties they endure - hunger, ignorance and disease!
- Nikola Tesla

Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists.
- Franklin Roosevelt

While their territory has been devastated and their homes despoiled, the spirit of the Serbian people has not been broken.
- Woodrow Wilson

Jubilee Celebration of the Western American Diocese: Freedom to Pursue the Faith

Alhambra, CA – On August 30 through September 1, 2013, the Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America will hold its annual Diocesan Days gathering. This year Diocesan Days will mark several momentous anniversaries: 50 years of the founding of the Diocese, 150 years of the birth of Archimandrite Sebastian Dabovich, Holy Apostle to the Americas, and 1700 years of the Edict of Milan.

Events will include a Saturday morning symposium, which will focus on the freedom to pursue our faith since the time of Constantine 1700 years ago and how to better live a spiritual life. Symposium speakers will be Hieromonk Iakovos of Simonopetra, Mt. Athos, the V. Rev. Dr. John Erickson of St. Vladimir Seminary, and Dr. James Skedros of Holy Cross Seminary. An open question and answer session will follow their presentations.

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"We look forward to welcoming our Diocesan community and all interested persons to our celebration," said Bishop Maxim. "This promises to be a time filled with fellowship and spiritual reflection. Diocesan Days event provides space for celebration, dialogue and reflection through common prayer and symposia, theological conversations, workshops, the American landscape exhibit, the wine and beer symposiums…"

"The programme is made up of a rich offering of events intended to maximize sharing among participants – to deepen their experience of faith and fellowship, to increase their knowledge of ecclesial truths and to provide space for entertainment."

Other highlights of Diocesan Days will be an exhibition of recently completed American landscapes in an abstract Byzantine style by Fr. Stamatis Skliris as well as music, folk dance, and artisanal beer and wine tastings. Also, Dr. Michael Pravica, University of Nevada, Los Vegas, will give a special presentation on the work of Nikola Tesla, son of a Serbian Orthodox priest and scientist extraordinaire.

All events will take place on the grounds of St. Steven's Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, 1621 W. Garvey, Alhambra, CA 91803.

For more information please visit http://www.westsrbdio.org/en/events/diocesan-days

About the Western American Diocese

Founded in 1963, the Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America serves 32 parishes and 5 monasteries and sketes in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah and Mexico. Since 2006 the Diocese has been shepherded by His Grace the Right Reverend Bishop Maxim.

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People Directory

Metropolitan Irinej (Kovačević)

(1963–1998)

Milan Kovačević was born to Sreten and Kristine Kovačević on 6 September, 1914, in the village Vrnčani near Gornji Milanovac in the Kingdom of Serbia. Milan completed primary school in his village, and high school in Gornji Milanovac. After completing the course at the Teachers High School, he served as a teacher in the village Ljutovnica near Gornji Milanovac.

In 1941, during World War II, because he was at that time an army reserve officer, he was taken by the Nazis to a camp in Germany, where he remained until 1945. After the liberation, Milan went to England, where he temporarily attended a seminary in Dorchester.

In 1950, he emigrated to the USA, and he enrolled in the Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York, and also in Columbia University.

In October, 1953, Milan entered the Serbian Orthodox Monastery of Saint Sava in Libertyville, Illinois. On 30 December, 1953, he was tonsured to be a monk by Archimandrite Firmilian (Ocokoljić), and he was given the name Irinej. On 31 December, 1953, the Monk Irinej was ordained to the Holy Diaconate in the monastery by Bishop Dionisije, while on April, 1954, the Hierodeacon Irinej was ordained to the priesthood in the monastery by Bishop Dionisije. On 31 August, 1956, the Hieromonk Irinej was elevated to the dignity of igumen (abbot).

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Publishing

Residents of Heaven

An Exhibit of Byzantine and Modern Orthodox Icons

Residents of Heaven is a book of Icons by Father Stamatis Skliris which were prepared for "An Exhibit of Byzantine and Modern Orthodox Icons" held at the "David Allan Hubbard Library, Fuller Theological Seminary" in Pasadena, California, June 10 - July 5, 2010.

The iconographer, V. Rev. Stamatis Skliris, attended the opening of the exhibit with His Grace, Bishop Maxim who gave the Introduction. The mounting of the display was done by Jasminka Gabrie and the staff of the Fuller Library. The opening event was organized by Dr. William Dyrness, Director of the Visual Faith Institute, Brehm Center for Worship, Theology and the Arts, Fuller Seminary.