On March 11, 2024, Bishop Antonije of Moravica, who served as the head of the Representation of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Moscow, peacefully passed away.
The details regarding the date and time of the funeral will be communicated at a later time.
Bishop Antonije was born on July 23, 1970, on the feast day of Venerable Anthony of Kiev-Pechersk, in Valjevo, to his parents Radovan and Jelka (née Milićević). His journey in the priesthood began on September 23, 1989, when he was ordained a monk by Bishop Stefan of Žiča in the Krka monastery.
Subsequently, on December 10, 1989, in the Žiča monastery, he was ordained to the rank of deacon, and on January 5, 1991, also in the Žiča monastery, he was ordained to the rank of hieromonk. Upon the suggestion of Bishop Stefan of Žica and with the blessing of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Hieromonk Antonije pursued theological studies at the Moscow Theological Academy in the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius in 1992, where he graduated in 1996. His academic achievements were recognized with the award of the scientific title of Candidate of Theological Sciences by the Scientific Council of the Moscow Spiritual Academy on May 31, 1996.
Returning to Serbia in 1996, he served as vicar and treasurer of the Studenica monastery. In 2000, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church appointed him as a professor at the Theological “St. Petar Dabrobosanski” seminary in Foča, and he also began teaching at the Music Academy of the University of East Sarajevo. Furthering his academic pursuits, he obtained a master’s degree in theology from the Russian Orthodox Institute of St. John the Theologian in Moscow, where he defended his master’s thesis on “Liturgical Traditions in the Serbian Orthodox Church.” His scholarly endeavors culminated in the defense of his doctoral dissertation on “Worship in Pre-Chalkidonian Churches” before the International Academic Accreditation and Attestation Committee, earning him the title of Doctor of Theology.
From 2003 onwards, Bishop Antonije dedicated himself to teaching at the Russian Orthodox Institute “Saint John the Theologian” in Moscow, where he also served as the manager of the Department of Liturgical Theology. In recognition of his academic contributions, Bishop Antonije was appointed dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and Theology of the Moscow Orthodox University by the Scientific Council of the Moscow Orthodox University of Saint John the Theologian in 2018, a position he held until July 1, 2022.
Throughout his life, Bishop Antonije received numerous high church and state honors, and he was also a prolific author of books, monographs, and scientific articles.
Source and photo: Serbian Orthodox Church
