Archbishop Irénée brought Orthodox communities together in Burnaby during a special Holy Hierarchical Liturgy that united faithful for prayer, remembrance and fellowship. The service was held on August 10 at Saint Michael the Archangel Church and coincided with the Serbian Orthodox Church’s commemoration of Hieromartyr Milos Bilbija.
The Holy Hierarchical Liturgy was celebrated with the blessing of Metropolitan Mitrofan of Canada. Archbishop Irénée was joined by local parish priest Father Sinisa Milutinovic and clergy from the Orthodox Church in America. The gathering highlighted the strong spiritual ties and cooperation between Orthodox communities in Canada.
The celebration carried special meaning for members of the local Serbian community. Many Orthodox faithful in the Vancouver area have family roots in Grahovo and nearby communities connected to the life and martyrdom of Saint Milos, also known as Milan. More than a century after his death, a portion of his holy relics was brought to the church by descendants and people connected to the region. This created a meaningful link between the community’s heritage, faith and religious traditions.
For more information and photos from the Holy Hierarchical Liturgy in Burnaby, visit the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada website. More information about the Burnaby celebration
