Metropolitan Mitrofan Celebrated Holy Liturgy at Lelic Monastery

Source: Diocese of Valjevo

On May 17, 2026, on the Sunday of the Blind Man, the Holy Hierarchical Liturgy was celebrated in the Lelic Monastery, led by Metropolitan Vasilije of Srem, with the concelebration and prayerful participation of Metropolitan Jefrem of Banja Luka, Metropolitan Mitrofan of Canada, several clergy and the presence of the faithful.

In the words “Christ is Risen” is our faith and without it there is no salvation and no meaning to our life, His Eminence Metropolitan of Canada Mitrofan stated in his holiday homily, instructing the congregation that Saint Seraphim of Sarov greeted everyone he met with these words, and the Holy Apostle Paul emphasized in his sermons the importance of that holy faith, in which God’s people lived. One of them is Saint Bishop Nikolaj, in whose transfer of relics Metropolitan Mitrofan personally participated and placed the moments of discovering the earthly trace of the Chrysostom of Lelic in an unforgettable memory. The Canadian hierarch also shared his memory – in 1975, as a graduate of the Theological Faculty of the Serbian Orthodox Church, he met Venerable Father Justin of Celije and spoke with him, and he keeps the memory of that great day in his heart.

Holy men carried faith in the Resurrection of Christ, in our Risen Lord Jesus Christ. That is why they remained so great. Someone said long ago: “First Sava, then Varnava,” and I would dare to say: “First Sava, then Nikolaj.” No one has brought about so much revival in our people as Holy Father Nikolaj – of Lelic, Ohrid, Zica, All-American and All-Orthodox, as many of our fathers say. We have come here to venerate his holy relics and to pray that he will bring peace to our Serbian land, to our Serbia, about which he sang so much and for which he cried so much while he was in exile in America until his death in 1956, said Metropolitan Mitrofan in honour of Holy Bishop Nikolaj next to his reliquary in the endowment which he donated to his homeland with his pious parents Katarina and Dragomir.

Continuing his homily, Bishop Mitrofan also emphasized the important role played in the spiritual life of the Serbian people by Venerable Father Justin of Celije.

Another great father, not because he is ours, Justin of Celije left such an indelible mark on our people with his theology, with his life. He often said that Christians are “a living walking gospel”… May the Lord grant that faith in the Risen Lord Christ may be increasingly strengthened in our people and that our great Holy Fathers, led by Saint Sava, Arsenije, Maksim, Petar, Nikolaj of Zica, Justin of Celije and many others from our lineage, who are countless, may help us in this. Let us remember all the martyrs of Jasenovac, Prebilovci, Jadovno… throughout the Serbian land – with words of prayer to the saints of the Serbian lineage, Metropolitan Mitrofan blessed the congregation in the Lelic shrine.

At the end of his homily, the Canadian hierarch, who served in the United States for part of his life, spoke of the sadness felt by the Serbian diaspora in that country when the relics of Bishop Nikolaj were transferred to Serbia. They said, Metropolitan Mitrofan recalled, that they had been “left orphans.” But, he consoled them, “he did not leave, his trace remained in the monastery cared for by Saint Mardarije of Libertyville, who, together with Saint Bishop Nikolaj, prays for the entire Serbian people,” Metropolitan Mitrofan concluded.

Several believers approached the Holy Sacrament of Communion. After the conclusion of the Holy Liturgy, Metropolitans Vasilije, Jefrem and Mitrofan visited the Museum of Saint Bishop Nikolaj, which was consecrated on his feast day this year by His Holiness the Serbian Patriarch Porfirije. A warm reception in the monastery dormitory was organized by the head of the monastery, Archimandrite Georgije, together with his monastery brethren, known for their hospitality. As a sign of gratitude, Metropolitan Jefrem presented an icon to the hosts.