Biography of the newly-elected Bishop Justin of Žiča of the Church of Serbia
26/6/14
His Grace newly-elected Bishop Justin (Stefanović) of Žiča was born on 26 May 1955 in Čačak and was baptized as Miroslav. He finished primary and secondary schools, as well as the Faculty of Economy in Belgrade. His monastic life began in the monastery of Crna Reka in 1980 where he was tonsured in 1983 by Bishop Pavle of Raska-Prizren, later Serbian Patriarch.
Along with his monastic duties, he enrolled in the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Belgrade and graduated in 1987. In Athens he absolved postgraduate studies at the School of Theology of the University of Athens. In 1991 he became an abbot of the monastery of Crna Reka.
On 27 May 1987, during the ordinary convocation of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the SOC, he was elected Vicar Bishop of Hvosno and appointed as deputy of the sick Bishop Milutin of Timok with all rights and duties of a diocesan bishop. The ordination (cheirotony) was performed in the Sopoćani monastery on the feast-day of Saints Cosmas and Damian, on 14 July 1992. Serbian Patriarch Pavle officiated the ordination with the concelebration of a number of bishops.
Bishop Justin has worked tirelessly on reconstruction of churches and renovation of monastic life in the Diocese of Timok. He was a member of the Holy Synod of Bishops in two mandates. The Bishop participated in many local and international theological and scientific congresses and symposia. He translates from Greek and publishes theological texts and scientific works.
He has been dealing with art for three decades – mostly with woodcarving and producing wood carved crosses. His artistic works he has exhibited at many collective and solo exhibitions.
Bishop Justin defended his Master’s thesis on the theme Repentance according to the Teaching of Apostolic Fathers on 25 March 2014.
The enthronement of the new Bishop of Žiča Justin in the Cathedral church of Kraljevo will be performed on 3 August 2014. His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, will perform the enthronement rite himself, while many Bishops of our Holy Church will concelebrate during the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy.
