From February 13 to March 2 of this year, Bishop of Kostajnica Serafim – Vicar Bishop of the Diocese of New Gracanica – Midwestern America, made a visit to all the parishes of the Texas Deanery of our diocese. On the way to Texas, Bishop Serafim also visited the Holy Archangels Monastery in Weatherby, MO as well as Parishes of Saint George in Lenexa, KS and Saint Mary of Egypt in Kansas City, MO. Hierarchal Liturgy was served at the Holy Archangels Monastery on Friday, February 14. After liturgy monastics and faithful gathered at the newly rebuilt refectory/guest building for a meal and a brief spiritual discussion. On the evening of Friday 14, on the eve of the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord in the Temple, vespers was served at the Saint George parish in Lenexa, KS, and on the morning of February 15, Hierarchal Liturgy was served at the Saint Mary of Egypt parish in Kansas City, MO, followed by fellowship and discussion. 

On Sunday, February 16, Serbian Orthodox Church of the Holy Three Hierarchs in Dallas, TX, celebrated its Slava. 

By the grace of God, we celebrated our Temple Slava, the Holy Three Hierarchs in Dallas, on February 16, 2025.

We were honored to host His Grace Serafim, who was visiting our community in Dallas for the first time.

Protopresbyter-stavrophor Srđan Veselinović, Protopresbyter Ljubinko Savić, and Priest Tomislav Savić participated in the Hierarchal Liturgy and prayer meeting. A wonderful number of believers from our parish and parishes from Austin, Houston, and Galveston attended first the Divine Liturgy, and then the Slava luncheon with a program prepared by our parishioners.

We thank you all with joy and may the Lord grant all His blessings through the prayers of the Holy Three Hierarchs. Amen!

Protojerej Ljubinko Savic

After his visit to the Holy Three Hierarchs parish in Dallas, TX, bishop Serafim headed to Saint Luke Serbian Orthodox Missionary Parish in Austin, TX.

Visit of Bishop Seraphim of Kostajnica to the Parish of St. Luke in Austin

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord…

As part of his visit to the Hierarchal Deanery of Texas from February 16 to March 1 of this year, His Grace Bishop Seraphim of Kostajnica, Vicar to His Eminence Archbishop and Metropolitan Longin, stayed in our parish of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke from February 18 to 22.

On Tuesday, February 18, in the afternoon, His Grace Bishop Seraphim was welcomed by the local parish priest, Archpriest Dragoljub, with several parishioners and members of the parish board. After entering the chapel and distributing blessings, the bishop signed the Gospel book and thus made his first hierarchal visit to this parish official. After the words of welcome, a lunch was prepared for our dear guest and the parishioners present.

Although the weather conditions for Texas were unusually cold with wind and dry snow, this did not prevent His Grace from making several visits during his stay in Austin. First, we visited the Greek monastery of St. Petka – Paraskeva in the city of Washington, not far from Houston, where two nuns of Serbian origin also live, one of whom welcomed us and showed us the beautiful monastery with a refectory and other monastery buildings.

After visiting the monastery, we headed to the Orthodox school of St. Constantine, which is under the jurisdiction of the Church of Antioch in Houston. Here we were joined by Archpriest Srđan Veselinović from the parish of St. Emperor Constantine and Empress Helen of Galveston, Father Mark from the Antiochian parish in Houston, as well as His Grace Vicar Bishop Thomas of the school administration. This school has two campuses with preschool children and students from 1st to 12th grade, with a total of 500 students. The school also has a college with 25 students. We had the opportunity to partially attend the lectures that took place during our visit, and were convinced firsthand of the quality of the program. We also noticed that in each of the classrooms there is one or more icons of St. Emperor Constantine, to whom the campus is dedicated, as well as icons of Christ the Savior, the Virgin Mary and other saints. 

At the end of the visit, we had a conversation with the school dean and His Grace Bishop Thomas. After completing a very successful visit, we returned to Austin where we arranged for the youth of our parish to meet with His Grace in the parish hall and have a conversation on many issues of today and the importance of learning as much as possible about our Orthodox faith and living according to its principles, so that we may be faithful and devoted followers on the saving path of Christ the Savior.

The next day, His Grace, accompanied by Subdeacon Jovan, visited the Greek Monastery of the Holy Archangels in Springs Branch, two hours away from Austin. There, the Bishop had the opportunity to meet with the retired Bishop of Boston Isaiah of the Greek Archdiocese and the brotherhood of the monastery, whom he had the opportunity to meet some 25 years ago on his journey through Texas. Upon returning from the monastery, the Milanović family hosted a nice dinner in honor of the distinguished guest.

The following day, Friday, His Grace Bishop spent performing his assigned duties, conducting necessary conversations and responding to emails pertaining to the diocesan administration.

In the evening, His Grace Bishop had an informative session with the parish board. Archpriest Dragoljub informed His Grace Bishop in detail about the history of this young parish, as well as the process of building a new church, that the architectural and engineering works have been completed, and that the necessary documents have been submitted to the state and municipal structures for issuing a permit to begin construction of the church. We sincerely hope that we will be able to complete this process within a few months. The parish currently has approximately $700,000 ready to begin work. A report is also being prepared for collecting donations once all the permits are issued. The construction of the church will take place in phases, for now we do not plan to take out any loans. We believe that we will be able to complete the church in less than 5 years without financial debt.

Many of the board members present praised the harmony and spirit that reigns in this parish, like almost nowhere else, and that this contributed to the purchase and full payment of the existing property and the construction of a new hall. Significant financial resources have also been prepared to begin the construction of the new church. The local parish priest Prota Dragoljub was also mentioned and thanked for all his pastoral work and leadership of this parish from its foundation to the present day and all this without any financial income from the parish, which has significantly contributed to its progress in every respect.

The next day, Saturday, being a memorial Saturday, a hierarchal liturgy and a parastos memorial service were served. Upon entering the chapel, the bishop was greeted by the sound of bells and the presence of parishioners by Archpriest Dragoljub, while the choir sang Dostojno jest… After entrance prayers, the local parish priest, on behalf of the clergy of the hierarchal deanery of Texas, presented purple-colored episcopal vestments as a gift, which His Grace then blessed and served in the same. It was a real pleasure to concelebrate for the first time with His Grace Bishop Serafim, who inspired us with his sermon. Subdeacon Bogdan Pantić conducted the small choir of our parish, and the second subdeacon Jovan Milanović, with Strahinja Vockić, served with the bishop.

The Most Reverend Bishop was greeted by Archpriest Dragoljub who thanked him for the canonical visit and wise words, wishing that in his archpastoral service “his words may always be gentle, seasoned with salt… Eis polla eti Despota. After a lunch prepared and served by Protinica Milena, the Most Reverend Bishop thanked Archpriest Dragoljub and the parishioners for their hospitality and especially thanked the Milanović family who made it possible for the Most Reverend Bishop to stay in their modern RV set up for this occasion on the church property during his stay in our parish. During the visit, the Most Reverend Bishop was assisted in liturgical services and travels by Subdeacon Jovan.

In the afternoon, the Bishop headed to the parish of the Holy Emperor Constantine and Empress Helen in Galveston, the oldest Serbian church community in Texas, which this year celebrates 130 years since its founding and where he served the Holy Hierarchical Liturgy on Sunday, February 23.

Archpriest Dragoljub Popović

Pastor of the Parish of St. Luke

And the Hierarchical Dean of Texas

On Sunday, February 23, hierarchal Divine Liturgy was served at the Sts. Constantine and Helen church in Galveston, TX. After Liturgy a festive reception was made in the parish hall with children performing recitations and folklore dances, and with good fellowship. 

On Monday, February 24, his Grace visited the Saint Sava parish in Houston (Cypress) TX, where vespers were served in the evening after which he spoke with the parish priest, Fr. Dejan Tiosavljevic, some of the board members and faithful. 

On Wednesday, February 25, on the Feast Day of Saint Simeon the Myrrh-streaming, bishop Serafim served a hierarchal Divine Liturgy at the Saint Michael the Archangel Serbian Orthodox Church in Hot Springs, AR. 

Оn the feast day of St. Simeon the Myrrh-streaming, our parish was blessed to welcome His Grace Serafim, Bishop of Kostajnica and Vicar of the Metropolitan of Midwestern America. He served the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at St. Archangel Michael Church, together with our clergy and our guest, Fr. David from the Russian Orthodox Church in Little Rock. Many faithful gathered in prayer, making it a truly joyful and spiritually uplifting day.

After the Liturgy, Bishop Serafim gave an inspiring sermon, bringing greetings and blessings from Metropolitan Longin. His words strengthened us in our faith and reminded us of the deep spiritual heritage we share. We continued the celebration in the church hall, enjoying fellowship, pleasant conversations, and a shared meal. Later in the day, His Grace also visited St. George Church, bringing even more blessings to our community.

We are sincerely grateful to Bishop Serafim for his visit and prayers, to Fr. David and his family for making the trip from Little Rock, and to everyone who came to welcome our Bishop and be part of this beautiful and blessed day. May God bless you all and may the prayers of St. Simeon the Myrrh-streaming be with us always!

In Christ,

Fr. Tomislav Savić

On Thursday bishop Serafim traveled to Nashville where he visited with the faithful on Friday, drove to Huntsville, AL on Saturday and served at Saint Petka Church in Nashville again on Sunday. 

During his canonical visit to the Texas Deanery, His Grace, the newly elected Bishop of Kostajnica, Seraphim (Vicar of Metropolitan Longin), visited the parishes in Nashville, Tennessee, and Huntsville, Alabama.

On Friday, February 28th, at 6:00 PM, with the blessing of Bishop Seraphim, the parish priest, Father Bojan Banović, served the Vespers service, with the prayerful presence of Bishop Seraphim and the gathered faithful.

After the evening service, the hardworking sisters of the Circle of Serbian Sisters prepared a Lenten meal for all those present. Following the meal, the faithful of the Church of St. Petka had the great honor and joy to engage in a conversation with the bishop on various spiritual topics and dilemmas that we, as Christians, face in today’s world. The bishop gave very instructive and inspiring answers to the questions of the faithful, encouraging them in the spirit of faith and love. The parishioners expressed their deep gratitude to the bishop for the wonderful evening and the time he dedicated to them, with a prayerful wish to meet and talk with him again soon.

On Saturday, March 1st, His Grace, Bishop Seraphim, visited our faithful at the Church of St. Archangel Michael in Huntsville, Alabama, where he served the Holy Hierarchical Liturgy, with the concelebration of the parish priest Gregory Schultz, Father Bojan Banović (the priest of St. Petka Church in Nashville), and the parish deacon Benjamin Litter. A large number of faithful gathered at the Holy Liturgy to welcome their bishop and hear words of spiritual guidance. The bishop gave an inspiring sermon on the need for love and forgiveness that we, as Orthodox Christians, must have toward one another and on the preparation for Great Lent, so that we may worthily and with open and joyful hearts greet the Lord’s Pascha – Easter. After the service, Father Gregory thanked Bishop Seraphim for his visit and once again, on behalf of the parish, congratulated him on his election as Bishop of Kostajnica, wishing him many years of zealous service to our Church.

After the liturgy, lunch was prepared for all present, followed by a meeting regarding the construction of a new church. At the meeting, it was unanimously decided to begin construction by first building a multifunctional hall that will also serve as a place of worship, while continuing to gather the necessary funds and gradually work on the construction of the actual church. The bishop expressed his satisfaction with the spiritual life of the parish in Huntsville, especially with the fact that the parish is growing day by day, and that more and more people are converting to Orthodoxy.

On Forgiveness Sunday March 2nd, our Church of St. Petka in Nashville had the honor and great joy of welcoming His Grace Bishop Seraphim of Kostajnica, Vicar Bishop of Metropolitan Longin, for the first time. This historic visit for our community was crowned by the celebration of the Divine Hierarchical Liturgy, the first served by Bishop Seraphim in our church as a bishop. 

His Grace was joined by the local parish priest, Fr. Bojan Banovic, and Deacon Sreten Stanojevic, a cleric of the Eastern American Diocese. With the prayerful participation of a large number of faithful, who joyfully welcomed their archpastor, the liturgy was filled with a spirit of unity, prayer, and spiritual upliftment. 

After the liturgy, Bishop Seraphim delivered an inspiring sermon, encouraging the faithful to strengthen their faith and love for God and their neighbors in these preparatory days for the Great Lent. His Grace expressed his joy in being able to share this important moment with our community and called on everyone to persevere in prayer and fasting. 

Following the service, a festive lunch was held, during which the faithful had the opportunity to get to know Bishop Seraphim more personally and express their thoughts and gratitude for his visit. This day will remain in the memory of all as a great blessing and confirmation of the spiritual unity of our parish with its bishop and the entire Church. 

Glory to God for all things!

Priest Bojan Banovic