Nikolaj Velimirović
Serbian Orthodox Christian bishop / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Nikolaj Velimirović (Serbian Cyrillic: Николај Велимировић; 4 January 1881 [O.S. 23 December 1880] – 18 March [O.S. 5 March] 1956) was bishop of the eparchies of Ohrid and Žiča (1920–1956) in the Serbian Orthodox Church. An influential theological writer and a highly gifted orator, he was often referred to as the new John Chrysostom[3] and historian Slobodan G. Markovich calls him "one of the most influential bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the twentieth century".[4]
Nikolaj Velimirović | |
---|---|
Holy Bishop | |
Born | Nikola Velimirović 4 January 1881 Lelić, Serbia |
Died | 18 March 1956(1956-03-18) (aged 75) South Canaan, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Venerated in | Eastern Orthodox Church |
Canonized | 24 May 2003 by Serbian Orthodox Church |
Major shrine | Lelić monastery, Serbia |
Feast | 3 May (O.S. 20 May)[1][2] |
Attributes | Vested as a bishop |
As a young man, he came close to dying of dysentery and decided that he would dedicate his life to God if he survived. He lived and was tonsured as a monk under the name Nikolaj in 1909. He was ordained into the clergy, and quickly became an important leader and spokesperson for the Serbian Orthodox Church, especially in its relations with the West. When Nazi Germany occupied Yugoslavia in World War II, Velimirović was imprisoned and eventually taken to Dachau concentration camp.
After being liberated by the Allies at the end of the war, he chose not to return to Yugoslavia (which became a Socialist republic after the war). He moved to the United States in 1946, where he remained until his death in 1956. He strongly supported the unity of all Eastern Orthodox churches and established particularly good relationships with the Anglican and Episcopal Church.[5]
On 24 May 2003, he was canonized as a saint by the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church as Saint Nikolaj of Ohrid and Žiča (Свети Николај Охридски и Жички) though he is often[citation needed] referred to as Saint Nikolaj of Serbia (Свети Николај Српски).