| |
Bishop
Longin
His
Grace,
Bishop Longin was born on September 29, 1955 as Momir Krco in the town
of Kruscanje - Olovo. His parents were Stanoje and Andja Jovanovich. He
attended grade school in Olovske Luke from 1962 to 1970. He entered
Three Hierarchs Seminary in the Monastery Krka in 1970 and graduated in
1975.During
this time he was tonsured a monk and received "Mala
Schema" as a fifth year student. The tonsuring was done by Bishop
Stefan of Dalmatia on the eve of the school Slava of Three Hierarchs on
February 11th, 1975. At the Divine Liturgy on February 12th he was
ordained a deacon by Bishop Stefan. On February 13th, he was ordained a
priest.He entered the Moscow Theological Academy in 1975 where he
graduated in 1979. From October 1980 to April 1981, he served in the
Diocese of Zvornik- Tuzla, as secretary of the Executive Board. He was
also administrator of two parishes. On the decision of the Holy Synod
of Bishops he was appointed as lecturer of the Holy Three Hierarchs
Seminary in 1983 for two years.At the Sabor of May 1985 he was elected
Vicar Bishop of Morava to the Patriarch. He was consecrated on October
20, 1985. His Holiness served the Divine Liturgy along with
Metropolitan Vladimir of Rostov and Novo Cerkay, (now Metropolitan of
Kiev) who had been Dean of the Moscow Theological Academy while Bishop
Longin was a student. Also serving were Bishop Nikolaj of Dalmatia, who
has been Dean of the Seminary in Krka Monastery where the young Bishop
had begun his theological education; and Bishop Vasilije of Zvornik
-Tuzla. Present at the services were the following bishops of the
Serbian Church; Metropolitan Vladislav of Dabro-Bosnia, Metropolitan
Jovan of Zagreb and Ljubljana, Bishop of Chyrsotom of Branicevo, Bishop
Pavle of Ras and Prizen, Bishop Stefan of Zica, and Bishop of Jefrem of
Banja Luka. As guests, the present were Archimandrite Platon, professor
of the Moscow Theological academy, Canon Dr. Colin Hikling, professor
of Holy Scripture at London University, where the new bishop had done
post graduate studies. In May of 1986 he was elected Bishop of
Australia - New Zealand, where he spent six and half years. Besides
serving the great territory of Australia, he also built churches and
was involved in work with the youth. Bishop Longin was known especially
as a fighter for unity of the Serbian Church.At the Sabor of 1992 at
the request of His Holiness and brother bishops, Bishop Longin accepted
the duty of being bishop of Dalmatia. He was not able to enter his
residence in Sibenik, but had to reside in the Monastery of Krka, where
he lectured at the seminary. With the blessing of His Holiness
Patriarch Pavle, he journeyed to Canada and Australia where he
collected donations for the suffering Serbian people. After the tragic
occurrences in August 1995, Bishop Longin and the whole seminary from
Monastery Krka stayed at Divcibare near Valjevo. At the same time he
helped Bishop Lavrentije of Sabac - Valjevo in diocesan matters. Along
with Bishop Nikanor of Borniji Karlovac, he worked with the refugees,
visited the camps, and delivered help which had been sent mainly by the
Serbs in the Diaspora.With the decision of His Holiness Patriarch
Pavle, he was appointed on July 31, 1997, auxiliary in the
administration of the Diocese of America and Canada - New Gracanica
Metropolitanate. On May 23, 1998, he was appointed as Administrator of
the Diocese of America and Canada - New Gracanica Metropolitanate,
while on May 15th, 1999, he was elected by the Holy Assembly of Bishops
of the Serbian Orthodox Church - Sabor to be the Bishop of the Diocese
of American and Canada - New Gracanica Metropolitanate. This was
fulfilled the request of the Diocesan Council, and the Ecclesiastical
Court as well as the desire of the clergy and delegates of the Seventh
Church National Sabor held on April 23-24, 1999. He was enthroned in
New Gracanica on October 14, 1999 on behalf of His Holiness Patriarch
Pavle and the Holy Synod of His Emminence Metropolitan Amphilohije of
Montenegro and the Coastlands.
|
|