- In the most difficult times for our nation, Father Justin preached the Gospel and in doing so was crucified. Not by force, although he was persecuted by the powers of this world, but from within he voluntarily crucified his mind, his heart, his will on the cross of Christ so that Christ could live in him," His Holiness Patriarch of Serbia said in a festive letter. He celebrated the feast of St. Porphyria on the Annunciation, the feast on which the earthly life of Venerable Father Justin began and ended, in the votive church of Father Justin, dedicated to St. Sava, St. Justin Martyr and St. Mary of Egypt, in the monastery of Celje, the place where his holy relics remain today, and where all who follow the way of Christ come to worship.
One of the greatest clergymen of the Orthodox world today, scholar, prayer leader and confessor of the faith of Christ, the Venerable Father Justin of Celje, whose birth in 2024 marked one hundred and thirty years, forty-five years since his offering to the Lord and ten years since the transfer of his relics, gathered thousands of faithful, led by the archpastors of the Church of God, to offer prayers of thanksgiving and panegyrics in the sanctuary on the shore of Hradac in honor of his jubilee.
The liturgy of the Holy Hierarch was presided over by His Holiness Patriarch of Serbia. Porphyrios, with the co-service of His Eminence and Most Rev. Archbishops Mark of Berlin and of the German-Russian Church Abroad, Pachomius of Vransk, Jovan of Sumadija, Ignatius of Braničevo, Theodosius of Raška-Prizren, Hilarion of Timoka, Arsenius of Niš, Cherubim. Ossekopolski and Baraniński, Hierotheus of Shabaka, Stefan of Remesian, Peter of Toplik and the host, Bishop Isichi of Valjevo, as well as priests and monks from several dioceses. The service was accompanied by the singing of a choir of priests and theologians under the direction of Protovicarius Branko Čolić.
- Today we celebrate the Annunciation, the beginning of our salvation, the day on which St. Gabriel the Archangel announced to the Blessed Virgin that the Logos of God would be conceived in Her. As usual for us humans, who think and live according to the logic of this world, She first showed fear, as we humans usually fear before the mystery of miracles, the manifestation of God's grace. But Archangel Gabriel tells the Blessed Virgin not to be afraid, because the Holy Spirit will descend upon Her, overshadow Her with His power, and what is not possible for man, but only for God, will be revealed," Patriarch Porphyrios said about the mystery of today's feast, a mystery that introduces us to the salvation of the human race, which will take place through the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Holy Trinity.
- Archangel Gabriel invites the Blessed Virgin Mary to pass from this world into the context of God's grace, the presence of God, where God does not rule the reason and logic, where the language of faith and trust is spoken. Archangel Gabriel granted the Blessed Virgin to enter the space of God's grace, His Providence, so that She could surpass her logic and through the language of faith, trust and love find the experience of meeting with the living God, in which the mysteries of God are revealed, but also the mystery of man, the mystery of the world and the fact that Christ is the alpha and omega," said the Serbian First Hierarch.
- This year, the celebration of the Annunciation coincides with the Week of the Cross, in which, in the middle of the Great Forty, the Church places the cross for us, so that it may be a source of strength, a guide, a sign and a sign. during the Great Lent, when we perform various feats and endure many trials. The words of the Lord: Whoever wants to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me, deepen the Feast of the Annunciation," Patriarch Porphyrios pointed out that taking up the cross and renunciation in no way means that we have to give up our neighbor, our creativity and creation, but that following Christ concerns our inner being, our ethos. These words mean: to choose always to be with Christ, to make Him our measure, to think, speak and walk by Him, so that Christ may live in us, no matter where we are or what our position in society is," says Patriarch Porphyry. teachings. St. Paul, which still resound to this day as a call to follow the Son of God and His Gospel, because all is in vain if Christ is not the basis and meaning of our existence. As we celebrate these great days in the monastery of Celje, one of, along with Kosovo and Metohija, the monastery of Hilandar and other sanctuaries, the birthplaces of our nation, we honor the one who at baptism was named after the Annunciation - Annunciation, the one who was marked by the name of the philosopher - St. Justin Celje.
- In the most difficult times for our nation, Father Justin preached the Gospel and in doing so was crucified. Not by force, although he was persecuted by the powers of this world, but from within he voluntarily crucified his mind, his heart, his will on the Cross of Christ, so that Christ might live in him and preach salvation in Christ. In the hardest dark and gloomy times, rivers of the good news of Christ the Savior flowed from this place and washed every inch of our land. They fed the many souls of our people who wandered the empty roads. Many gathered in this place and found Christ. That is why, brothers and sisters, the seeds from this place have sprouted and are bearing beneficial fruit," concluded Patriarch Porphyrios, asking the Lord that the determination of our people may be to live for Christ, conscious of crucifixion and sorrows, but also of victory Christ, which is also our victory, which we have received from all the saints of our race from St. Sava to Fr. Justin.
During the earthly life of the Venerable Father Justin, who was a kind of exile in the Caelian monastery, but at the same time served God and His people faithfully, this shrine became a place of worship for many seekers of God from all over the world, as well as young intellectuals, some of whom were inspired by him and decided to dedicate themselves as monks to the service of God and their Church. The most famous among them are certainly the blessed memoirs of Metropolitan Amphilochius and Bishop Athanasius, Bishop Dr. Irinej of Bacsk, Metropolitan Mr. Marko of Berlin,... Patriarch Porphyrios and many others came to Celje as a high school student. Also, Fr. Justin's sermons were listened to with pleasure by the academician Dr. Vladeta Jerotić, one of the greatest Serbian intellectuals of recent times. Abba Justin enjoyed a great reputation in Greece, and on Mount Athos he was considered his own, although he never physically remained in the land of the monastic state. This is still the case today, as evidenced by the presence of many faithful from all over the world, as well as monks and nuns from the sister Greek Church.
During the consecration of the Slavonic breads and cakes, at the conclusion of the Holy Liturgy, Patriarch Porfiry noted that Father Justin is a guide and guide for our people, and congratulated him on today's feast. The prayer service ended with Patriarch Porfiry presenting Patriarch Porfiry with the Order of St. Father Justin. As the spiritual leader of the faithful people of the Valjevo Diocese, who inherit the image and work of the sage of God, the award for church education, culture and missionary activity was presented to the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church by the Venerable Bishop of Valjevo, Mr. Isikhije, who grew up spiritually alongside him in the Kovil Monastery.
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