June 18, 2014

The Exhumation and Translation of the Relics of St. Justin Popovich


Aimilios Polygenis
June 16, 2014

Over fifteen thousand pilgrims arrived at the Monastery of Valjevo in Celje, to participate in the historic event of the exhumation of St. Justin Popovich.

According to information from Romfea.gr, last Thursday at the Monastery of the Archangels there took place the digging up of the relics of St. Justin, and then with the appropriate honors they were ​​placed in a special casket.

On Saturday, the Holy Monastery of Celje celebrated a Patriarchal Divine Liturgy presided over by Patriarch Irinej of Serbia.

Also concelebrating were Bishops from all the Orthodox Churches, including Metropolitan Nicholas of Mesogaias, Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol, and from Mount Athos Abbot Methodios of the Monastery of Hilandari.

In his sermon the Primate of the Serbian Church mentioned the canonization of St. Justin Popovich four years ago, and he noted that St. Justin was a spiritual leader and theologian of the Church of Serbia.

Then with the blessing of the Patriarch, Bishop Irinej of Backa, a spiritual child of St. Justin, spoke about the life of St. Justin.

"Many could not understand Elder Justin, because he was a universal personality, an authentic man of the Church, and it was difficult for some who lived near him to understand and interpret him", said Bishop Irinej among other things.

Lastly it should be noted that the coffin with the relics of St. Justin were placed in the katholikon of the Holy Archangels Monastery in Celje.

Translated by John Sanidopoulos.