Metropolitan Christopher (in the world Metropolitan Christopher , in the world Velimir Kovachevich , Serb. Velimir Kovacheviћ ; December 25, 1928 , Galveston , Texas - August 18, 2010 , Chicago , Illinois ) - Bishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church , Metropolitan of Libertyville and Chicago.
| Metropolitan Christopher | ||
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan christopher | ||
 | ||
| ||
| May 21, 2009 - August 18, 2010 | ||
| ||
| October 5, 1991 - May 21, 2009 | ||
| ||
| June 18, 1978 - October 5, 1991 | ||
| Predecessor | Savva (Vukovich) | |
| Successor | Mitrofan (Kodich) | |
| Birth name | Velimir Kovachevich | |
| Original name at birth | Velimir Kovacheviћ | |
| Birth | ||
| Death | ||
Biography
Born December 25, 1928 in the city of Galveston, Texas, USA. He was the ninth of twelve children in the Serbian émigré family of Petar and Rista. Baptized in infancy.
From childhood, he was distinguished by his commitment to the Church and piety, he served in the church. After graduating from high school in his hometown, he studied at the Anglican Seminary "Nashot House", and then - at the Serbian Orthodox Theological Seminary of St. Sava in Libertyville , Illinois.
After marrying Milka, nee Rachevich, on November 25, 1951 he was ordained a deacon, and on December 2 of the same year, he became a priest.
Father Velimir reigned in the parishes of Johnstown, Pennsylvania in 1951-1954, in Pittsburgh in 1954-1962, and then in St. Michael's Church in southern Chicago in 1962-1978. He also served as chaplain at four universities. He made efforts to introduce bilingualism in his parishes, while at the same time maintaining fidelity to the canonical system during the split that befell the Serbian Orthodox Church in America. From 1963 until the adoption of the bishopric, he served as secretary of the Central Church Council of the Serbian Church in America, director of education of the Midwestern American Serbian diocese, member of the diocesan church court and council.
Becoming the father of four children - Peter, Paul, Velimir and Valerie - he was widowed in 1970. He raised and raised them in the faith, arranged their marriages, and by 2008 had nine grandchildren.
He continued his education, receiving a bachelor's degree in philosophy (1954) and a master of history (1957) from the University of Pittsburgh , completing doctoral courses and exams at the Protestant Chicago Theological Seminary " United Church of Christ " (1974), and receiving a master 's degree in theology (Master of Divinity) from Greek Orthodox School of the Holy Cross in Brooklyn.
In 1978, on the recommendation of the Bishop of Midwest American Firmilian (Otsokolic) , by the decision of the Council of Bishops held in Belgrade from May 25 to June 1, Father Velimir was elected bishop and received monastic tonsure with the name Christopher .
On June 18, 1978, he was consecrated bishop of East America and Canada. The ordination was made by the Patriarch of Serbia German in the service of the Bishop of Banat Vissarion (Kostić) and Midwest American Firmilian (Otsokolic). Vladyka Christopher became the first native of America to become the ruling Serbian bishop on this continent.
Bishop Christopher was conceived on July 28, 1978, at the temple of the Prophet Elijah in Alikvipi , Penn . In the first place he put education and soon organized a diocesan spiritual and educational program. Thanks to his labors, the flock entrusted to him was arranged and the diocese grew, so that on May 26, 1983, the Canadian diocese was separated from his diocese, and he remained interim manager until 1984. Vladyka was in the mixed commission of Orthodox and Roman Catholic bishops and in the Orthodox-Lutheran dialogue, represented the Serbian Church in the National and World Councils of Churches .
October 5, 1991 was elevated to the rank of Metropolitan and transferred to the Midwestern Department. Since that time, he was the chairman of the Council of Bishops and Church Ministers of the Serbian Church in North and South America, the representative of the Serbian Church in the Permanent Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in America . He put a lot of work to arrange and support the theological faculty of the Serbian Church in Libertyville, for some time being his dean.
According to the decision of the Council of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church of May 21, 2009, Serbian dioceses in the Americas were reorganized, in connection with which Metropolitan Christopher received the title of Libertyville and Chicago, chairman of the bishops' and church-wide Councils of the Serbian Church in North and South America, as well as the chairman of the clergy and laity of the Serbian Church in the Americas.
He died on August 18, 2010 in Chicago. To bury his remains was determined at the southern wall of the cathedral of the monastery of St. Sava of Serbia in Libertyville.