On the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost, October 12, 2025, His Grace Bishop Irinej of Washington, New York, and the Eastern American Diocese celebrated the Divine Hierarchical Liturgy at the Church of the Holy Great-Martyr and Victory-Bearer George in Clearwater.

Concelebrating His Grace were Protosyngellos Nektarije (Tešanović), parish priest in Lorain; Protopresbyter Aleksandar Saša Đurđević, parish priest in North Port; Protopresbyter Milan Jovanović, attached to the Saint George Church; Economos Milosh Zdralic, the local parish priest, and Deacon Milan Damljanović from Cleveland. Helping in the altar were Mr. John Buffalini and Mr. Gjorrgi Stojanov, who also instructed the many altar boys present. The responses were beautifully rendered by the parish choir under the direction of Mrs. Milanka Stojić, with the help of Presbytera Željka Jovanović, Mr. Srdjan Maksimović, and Reader Maksim Damljanović.

Before the beginning of the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Irinej tonsured Mr. Dušan Galić, a devoted helper of Saint George Church as a Reader, offering him a brief fatherly exhortation. Later during the Divine Liturgy—attended by a multitude of faithful and guests—His Grace Bishop Irinej ordained the reverend Deacon Sreten Stanojević, parish deacon of St. George Church, to the Holy Priesthood.

Before the Anaphora, Deacon Sreten was brought before his Hierarch, and when asked: “To what do you approach, and what do you seek?”, he answered as follows:

“Your Grace, Most Reverend Archpastor and Father!

Standing humbly before you today, I seek the blessing of ordination to the priestly rank.

Remembering the words of the Holy Apostle John, who says: ‘You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit,’ I cannot but give thanks to God, the One in Trinity, who has deemed me worthy of this holy ministry before all of you at this moment.

Today, as a great and sacred mystery unfolds in my life and as the Church calls me to serve at the Holy Altar of God, my heart turns back to the beginnings of my spiritual journey. With gratitude, I remember my dear grandmother Draginja and grandfather Vukašin, with whom, as a child, I took my first steps along the path of Orthodoxy, fasting, and holy tradition.

To my great joy, that path continued and deepened at the ancient Seminary of St. Arsenije of Srem in Sremski Karlovci. This was followed by my coming to the soil of America, which completely changed my life. I continued my theological education at St. Sava’s Faculty of Theology in Libertyville. I thank God that during those years I met my wife Vedrana, who filled my life with love, blessed us with three wonderful children, and has shared with me both joys and trials.

I especially wish to highlight the past two and a half years of my diaconal service, which have greatly enriched and fulfilled my life. Serving with you, Your Grace, I have learned much—not only about service and prayer but also about the love and humility by which one should live. I also extend heartfelt gratitude to my brother and concelebrant, Father Milosh, from whom I have likewise learned much, and who, by his example and words, has been a guide to me on this holy path. Your fatherly and brotherly love and support remain for me a precious treasure that strengthens and encourages me to walk more confidently along the road that leads to the Lord.”

After the threefold procession around the Holy Altar and the reading of the prayers and petitions of ordination to the priesthood, the faithful confirmed the ordination of Deacon Sreten to the priesthood by proclaiming loudly: “AXIOS!”and “HE IS WORTHY!”

At the call, “With the fear of God and with faith draw near!”, the faithful approached the Holy Chalice and partook of the Divine Mysteries. Following the Prayer behind the Ambo, koljivo was blessed, and the slava bread was cut in honor of St. Roman the Melodist, the heavenly protector and patron of the Saint George Church Choir in Clearwater.

After the Divine Liturgy, a festive luncheon followed in the Church Hall.

On the eve of the Divine Liturgy and ordination, Saturday, October 11, 2025, Bishop Irinej, concelebrated by local clergy and deacons, baptized and confirmed little Dorotea, the daughter of Father Sreten and Presbytera Vedrana.

All photos by Jelena Mulin. Thank you Jelena!