On Tuesday, January 20, 2021, Bishop Irinej of Novi Sad and Backa celebrated his baptismal name day. Bishop Irinej of Backa officiated the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy with the concelebration of Bishop Isihije of Mohacs, the clergy of the Cathedral church and the deacons of Novi Sad in the St. George’s Church in Novi Sad.
Speaking after the reading of the Gospel passage, Bishop Irinej pointed out that the person of St. John the Baptist was versatile and unique, after the image of the Most Holy Mother of God, in the history of salvation.
Congratulating the attendees on the feast day and the celebrants on their Patron Saint-day, Bishop Irinej reminded that in previous years, according to the tradition of the Diocese of Backa, the blessing of the feast gifts was in the Episcopal Palace, in the home where the bishops of Novi Sad and Backa live, and stressed that this year this will be in the Cathedral church.
After the Holy Liturgy, Bishop Isihije of Mohács blessed the slava gifts – cake and wheat. Protopresbyter-Staurophor Milivoj Mijatov, the Diocesan Dean of Novi Sad First, sent the best prayerful wishes to Bishops Irinej of Backa and Isihije of Mohacs, on the occasion of the celebration of their heavenly supplicant and intercessor before the Lord.
The Synaxis of Saint John the Baptist is also the Patron Saint-day of Metropolitan Porfirije of Zagreb and Ljubljana.
Source: Serbian Orthodox Church
