News and Events - May 2008
IN MEMORIAM:
PROTONAMESNIK +MILIVOJ DJORDJEVIC
PROTONAMESNIK +MILIVOJ DJORDJEVIC
The faithful servant of the Lord, Protonamesnik Milivoj Djordevic fell asleep in the Lord on the fifth Saturday of Great Lent, April 12, 2008, in Lodi, California, following unexpected complications of his illness. The funeral service was held at the Serbian Orthodox Church of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos in Sacramento, California, on Wednesday, April 16, 2008. Officiating at the funeral in addition to the local pastor Archpriest Dane Popovic were Protostavrophor Miladin Garich of Sacramento, CA; Protostavrophor Vasilije Cvijanovic of Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church of Moraga, CA; Archpriest Lazar Kostur of St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, Merrillville, IN; and Priest Steven Tumbas of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Jackson, CA. Fr. +Milivoj was laid to rest at the Serbian Cemetery in Colma, California.
Beloved son of Zivojin and Merinia Djordjevic, the late Fr. Milivoj was born on November 19, 1936, near Velika Plana in the village of Trnovce. Separated by World War II, he was finally reunited with his father in 1963, in Ontario, Canada. In the fall of 1965 he joined fellow Serbian seminarians Lazar Kostur, Bogdan Zjalic, and George Ketchanin for study at Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary in Jordanville, New York. Fr. Milivoj successfully graduated from Holy Trinity Seminary in 1969, with the degree of Bachelor of Theology issued by the University of the State of New York.
In 1971, he married Pava Brankovic at St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church in Hamilton, Ontario. The same year Fr. Milivoj was ordained at the hands of Bishop Sava, Bishop of the Eastern American and Canadian Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church, first to the Diaconate and then shortly thereafter to the Priesthood, remembering the words of the Lord: “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you…” (John 15:16). Immediately thereafter he was appointed parish priest at the newly-organized Serbian Orthodox Church Parish dedicated to St. Sava in London, Ontario.
Fr. Milivoj and Popadija Pava worked tirelessly not only in this their first parish, but with equal diligence and spiritual zeal when appointed to serve Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church in Castro Valley, California, in 1972. In 1973, they began their first of fourteen years of dedicated and all encompassing parish service at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Cupertino, California. Hereupon, Fr. Milivoj moved his family, now including their wonderful and devoted children, son Petar (1973) and daughter Danica (1979) to Lodi, California, where he continued to serve in the Lord’s vineyard at the St. Sava Mission in Jackson and at Angels Camp.
In loving memory of the late Fr. Milivoj, Fr. Lazar Kostur spoke at the funeral, briefly remembering their shared days at Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY, where Fr. Milivoj was a good student who readily adapted himself to the new and stringent routine of monastery life required of all seminarians. “At Holy Trinity Seminary we experienced first hand the spiritual depth of the Orthodox Church and were given the rare opportunity to gain a thorough foundation in and experience of the Orthodox liturgical life.” Fr. Lazar mentioned how Abbot and Dean of Holy Trinity Monastery and Seminary, the beloved Metropolitan Laurus of blessed memory, who preceded Fr. Milivoj in passing from this earthly life by just four weeks, always remembered Fr. Milivoj fondly; he called him “Miliboj.”
Fr. Lazar spoke about priestly duty and how conscientiously and diligently the late Fr. Milivoj offered service to our church under difficult and trying conditions in an era now often forgotten. With utmost humility, Fr. +Milivoj was fully dedicated to our Lord Jesus Christ and His Gospel. He put forth good works to the best of his abilities with love and patience for his flock, the church militant with hope of attainment of the church triumphant.
Fr. Dane Popovic likewise eulogized the late Fr. Milivoj eloquently, focusing on his years of service and sacrifice in northern California.
Fr. Milivoj loved and cherished his homeland for which he raised heartfelt prayer with tears. He was a great supporter of HRH Crown Prince Aleksandar II and HRH Crown Princess Katherine, whom he knew personally.
Protonamesnik +Milivoj Djordjevic was a faithful husband, a wonderful and devoted father, a good friend and “… a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.”
We extend our heartfelt condolences to Popadija Pava, son Petar, daughter Danica and the entire Djordjevic and Brankovic families. Please accept our gratitude for your collective years of service and sacrifice, known in totality only to Almighty God, Whom we beseech to grant you strength to endure your loss.
ХРИСТОС ВОСКРЕСЕ! ВОИСТИНY ВОСКРЕСЕ!
CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN!
CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN!
Archpriest Lazar Kostur
St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Cathedral
Merrillville, IN