BISHOP Dr. MITROPHAN VISITED PARISH IN JOHNSTOWN, PA
Johnstown, Pa – On Sunday, December 17, 2006 His Grace Bishop Mitrophan of Eastern America, visited the St. Nicholas Church in Johnstown, Pa., where he officiated at the Holy Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. He was assisted by newly appointed parish priest, Father Dejan Obradovic and diocesan secretary Fr. Deacon Dragoslav Kosic. This was the day that His Grace Bishop Mitrophan officially welcomed Father Dejan to our church and into our diocese. He wished him many, many years of service to God and to the St. Nicholas parish. He said he hoped Fr. Dejan would serve as his predecessors, the late + V. Rev. Radisa Puric, who was well known and respected not only in our church and diocese but also in the community and in Serbia, and the V. Rev. Nedeljko Grgurevich who has served, and continues to serve our diocese as the Episcopal Deputy, an accomplished author who is also known and respected throughout many areas. His Grace indicated that combined they served the parish of St. Nicholas in Johnstown for a total of 51 years adding that hopefully Fr. Dejan will be able to serve this parish for that many years as well.
It was a special day for the parish as the Sunday school children had prepared themselves to receive confession on this day. It was an honor to receive Holy Communion from His Grace, Bishop Mitrophan. A “posno” luncheon was prepared for the children and they were once again delighted to have His Grace bless their food and drink before the luncheon.
The newly appointed parish priest, Fr. Dejan Obradovic, was born in 1971 in Kragujevac, Serbia. He finished Seminary school in Prizren, Kosovo -Serbia in 1991 and his theological studies at the Theological Faculty in Libertyville, IL in 1997. He married the former Marija Domanovic in Kragujevac on November 1, 1998. He was ordained by Bishop Sava of blessed memory, in 1998, in Kragujevac and appointed as parish priest in “Vinogradi” – Kragujevac on January 1, 1999. On January 1, 2000 he was appointed as parish priest in Niagara Falls, Ontario, by Bishop Georgije. He came to St. Nicholas in Johnstown, PA., on November 1, 2006. He and Popadija Marija have been welcomed into the parish family of St. Nicholas, where it is also hoped that they will be 51 years if not more. As His Grace wished Fr. Dejan many years, the same wish came from Fr. Dejan to the bishop, echoed by the church choir and the parish: Mnogaja ljeta to His Grace Bishop Mitrophan and Fr. Dejan and Popadija Marija. Ziveli!