In a special statement issued on May 19, during the annual convocation of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Holy Assembly announced the canonization of the late Bishop Nicholai (Velimirovich) of Ochrid and Zhicha.
(Belgrade - 19 May 2003) - The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church today, May 19, with one heart and one voice unanimously decided to enter Bishop Nicholai (Velimirovich) of Ochrid and Zhicha into the calendar of saints of our Holy Orthodox Church. By this canonization the Holy Assembly in fact joyously confirms the widespread and generally agreed upon consciousness of his holiness among the people of God, not only in our own local Church, but in all the other local Churches as well.
The dates for the liturgical commemoration and feast days of this Holy Hierarch are set as the day of his blessed falling asleep in the Lord, March 5/18, and the day of the translation of his holy relics from America to Serbia, April 20/May 3.
The festal Hierarchical Liturgy with all the members of the Holy Assembly participating in honor of the newly-proclaimed Saint Nicholai of Ochrid and Zhicha will be held on the feast of the Holy Equals to the Apostles Cyril and Methodios, the Enlighteners of the Slavs, on May 11/23, 2003 in the Memorial Church of St. Sava on Vrachar in Belgrade.
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RELICS OF THE HOLY BISHOP NICHOLAI OF ZHICHA AND OCHRID TRANSLATED FROM LELICH MONASTERY TO THE MEMORIAL CHURCH OF ST. SAVA IN BELGRADE
(Belgrade, 20 May 2003) - Relative to the sacred canonization of the Holy Bishop Nicholai (Velimirovich), which will be held in the Memorial Church of St. Sava on Vrachar in Belgrade on 24 May 2003, the reliquary with the holy relics of the saint will be transferred from Lelich Monastery to the Church of St. Sava in Belgrade, on Friday afternoon, 23 May 2003 and will remain there until Saturday evening 24. may 2003.
This will enable all participants in the sacred and historical event to venerate this great Serbian source of sanctity - the sacred relics of the Holy Bishop Nicholai.
- [url=http://www.oea.serbian-church.net/info/1213.html]Source[/url].
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"...the sacred canonization of the Holy Bishop Nicholai ...will be held on 24 May 2003..."
