Bishop Milutin (Knezevic)

Bishop Milutin (Knežević) (1949-2020)

Mihajlo may be spelt Mihailo, Michael, Mikhail, Michel.

Knežević may be spelt Knezevic, Knezhevich.

Early life of Mihajlo Knežević

On 10 January, 1949, Mihajlo Knežević was born to Milorad Knežević and Cveta (born Petrović) Knežević, in the village of Mijač near Valjevo, (the capital of the Kolubara District of the Šumadija Region, southwest of Belgrade/“Beograd”), in the recently-established (1945) Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Valjevo and the Kolubara District are in the region of a well-known battle in 1914, the Battle of Kolubara in which the Serbian army defeated the Austro-Hungarian Army, and freed the Serbs from the yoke of Austrian-Hungarian subjugation.

Mihajlo Knežević was raised in family of Orthodox Christians, and in the bosom of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and he was baptised in the renowned Pustinja Monastery. The Slava (family name-day) of the family was the Feast of the Archangel Michael.

Mihajlo received his primary education in his home village.

In 1963, at the age of 14, Mihajlo entered the Monastery of Kaona, in the municipality of Vladimirci, which is about 75 km (47 mi) from Belgrade. There, he continued his education.

Monastic formation ; higher education

In 1967, Mihajlo Knežević entered the monastic school in the Ostrog Monastery, after which he returned to his monastic brotherhood in Kaona.

Monastic tonsure, 1968

In the Kaona monastery, Mihajlo Knežević remained a novice until 26 October, 1968, when Bishop Jovan (Velimirović) of Šabac and Valjevo (nephew of Saint Nikolaj (Velimirović)) tonsured him to be a monk in the monastery of Petkovica. He was given the name Milutin (after Saint Stephen Milutin of Serbia).

Diaconal ordination, 1968

On 27 October, 1968, the Monk Milutin (Knežević) was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by Bishop Jovan (Velimirović) in the Petkovica Monastery.

Priestly ordination, 1968

On 8 November, 1968, the Hierodeacon Milutin (Knežević) was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Bishop Jovan (Velimirović) in Osečina, in the same district.

Pastoral service

The Hieromonk Milutin (Knežević) completed the courses at the Spiritual Seminary of Saint Sava in Belgrade ; and after having passed the necessary examinations, he studied at the Theological Faculty of the University of Belgrade.

Transfer to North America, 1968

Before completing his studies in Belgrade, Hieromonk Milutin (Knežević) was sent to North America, for a time, and he continued his studies there.

For 6 months, Father Milutin served in Canada as the secretary of the Canadian Serbian Diocese under Bishop Georgije (Ðjokić). Then, for another 6 months, he served as the parish priest at Saint George’s Church in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

After this, he went to the USA, where he continued his studies at the Saint Sava Seminary in Libertyville, Illinois, USA.

It was from this seminary that he graduated in 1969.

Return to Serbia, 1969

Hieromonk Milutin was then recalled to Yugoslavia. Upon his return to his homeland, and to his home diocese, Hieromonk Milutin (Knežević) was assigned to serve as the superior of the Kaona Monastery.

In 1979, Hieromonk Milutin (Knežević) made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and he venerated the Tomb of Christ in Jerusalem, in Israel.

In 1981, Bishop Jovan (Velimirović) elevated the Hieromonk Milutin (Knežević) to the dignity of Singel (secretary, advisor).

In 1987, in Šabac, Bishop Jovan (Velimirović) elevated the Hieromonk Milutin (Knežević) to the dignity of Protosingel (chief secretary, chief advisor, chief administrator).

By January, 1992, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia ceased to exist in the context of the Yugoslav Wars that began in 1991. This came about as one of the consequences of the collapse of the Soviet Union at about the same time. The Yugoslav wars continued for many years during the Yugoslav breakup, which led to the formation of independent states from the many former constituent elements of the larger union. One of these independent elements was the Republic of Serbia.

In 1992, Patriarch Pavle II (Stojčević) presided over the healing of a schism which had persisted in the Serbian Orthodox Church since 1963. That schism had been precipitated by an attempt by the Church of Serbia to divide the North American Serbian Church into 3 dioceses, against the will of many of the North American Serbs. Instead of achieving that goal, the decision resulted in a schism which was expressed by divisions of the Serbian dioceses in Western Europe, in North America, and in Australia-New Zealand. These 3 portions were united in one schismatic administration. Although the schism was healed in 1992, the administrative division took a long time to resolve. Bishop Milutin had his own experience of these after-effects later in his life.

In 1994, Bishop Lavrentiy (Trifunović) of Šabac and Valjevo elevated the Protosingel Milutin to the dignity of igumen (abbot).

Igumen Milutin (Knežević) was also given the responsibility to care for the Saint Nicholas Monastery in Lelić.

On 7 February, 1996, Igumen Milutin was assigned to serve as the elder over both the Kaona and the Lelić monasteries.

On 17 October, 1998, Bishop Lavrentije (Trifunović) of Šabac-Valjevo, elevated Igumen Milutin (Knežević) to the dignity of archimandrite.

On 17 May, 1999, Archimandrite Milutin was assigned to serve as the Bishop's Deputy ("Namestnik" or "namenik") of the Posavo-Tamnava Bishop's Office.

In May, 2003, by the decision of the Sacred Bishop's Sabor, he was elected Bishop of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand.

Episcopal ordination, 2003

On 20 July, 2003, at the Cathedral Church of Saint Michael in Belgrade, Archimandrite Milutin (Knežević) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate by Patriarch Pavle II (Stojcević) of Serbia ; Metropolitan Nicholas (Mrđa) of Dabro-Bosnia ; Metropolitan Amfilohije (Radović) of Montenegro and the Littoral ; Bishop Longin (Krčo) of the New Gračanica American and Canadian Diocese ; Bishop Lavrentije (Trifunović) of Šabac and Valjevo ; Bishop Irinej (Gavrilović), of Niš ; Bishop Ireney (Bulović) of Bačka ; Bishop Georgije (Đokić) of Canada ; and Bishop Dositej (Motika) of Scandinavia and Britain.

Saint Michael's Cathedral, Belgrade

Episcopal service

Transfer to Australia, 2003

In 2003, Bishop Milutin (Knežević) was assigned to serve as the Bishop of Australia and New Zealand. This diocese was the one belonging to the New Gracanica administration under the Serbian Patriarchate, after the healing of the schism in 1992.

On 30 December, 2003, the enthronement was held during a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the Saint Sava Monastery in Canberra, Australia, led by his predecessor in that diocese, Bishop Nikanor (Bogunović), and assisted by 38 priests and 3 deacons.

Before Bishop Milutin’s 2003 assignment to Australia-New Zealand, the situation he met was as follows :

 In 2000, Bishop Nicanor became the first sole bishop in Australia and New Zealand, 
 being appointed reigning bishop of the New Gracanica Diocese and also administrator 
 of the patriarchal diocese. He established a joint legislative committee in 2002 which 
 was to work on a new constitution.

In 2003, Bishop Nikanor's successor, Bishop Milutin, was assigned to serve as the Bishop of the New Gracanica Diocese and administrator of the patriarchal diocese. This assignment was a part of the process of healing the after-effects of the schism.

Vladika Milutin there experienced the first direct difficulty with the ‘Property Trust Company’ which at that time administered Saint Sava's Monastery in Wallaroo, South Australia.

In 2006, it was decided by the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Church of Serbia to separate the Diocese of Valjevo from the Diocese of Šabac-Valjevo. The Diocese of Šabac-Valjevo had been established in 1947. The earlier history of the dioceses of Šabac and Valjevo involves the consequences of the movement of borders of the Ottoman Empire, following the Russo-Austrian-Turkish War of 1737-1739. This diocese was now to be re-established after 200 years, and it was separated from the Diocese of Šabac.

Transfer to Serbia, 2006 : Bishop of Valjevo

On 27 May, 2006, by the decision of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Bishop Milutin (Knežević) was transferred away from his responsibilities in Australia, and he was assigned to serve as the bishop of the restored Diocese of Valjevo, which had Valjevo as its see-city.

The enthronement of Bishop Milutin (Knežević) took place at Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Valjevo on 26 September, 2006.

Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Valjevo

At the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy of the enthronement in the Valjevo Holy Resurrection Cathedral, Bishop Milutin said that it was for him a great joy and comfort to be in this diocese near the 2 great saints, Saint Nikolaj (Velimirović), and Saint Justin (Popović). He furthermore called attention to the example of the famous Field Marshal Živojin Mišić. He encouraged all to live as worthy successors of the saints and of brave Serbian leaders.

Thanks to the farsightedness and wisdom of Bishop Milutin of Valjevo, the Diocese of Valjevo developed the local radio station “Istočnik” (meaning "source", or "fountain"), with its headquarters in the Temple of the Holy Virgin in Valjevo. Radio “Istočnik” started broadcasting officially on 2 March, 2009.

Vladika Milutin

During the course of his archpastoral service in this diocese, many formerly blasphemous persons, whom he had touched with the gentleness and wisdom of his words, were brought to and strengthened in faith in Christ the Saviour. He filled many hands with gifts. He always received others as would a kind host. He warmed his spiritual children with much joy, many smiles and many blessings.

Bishop Milutin blesses a monastic residence

On 3 June, 2013, Bishop Milutin was injured in a car accident on the Belgrade-Niš highway, near Krnjevo. He had been returning from the celebration of the 1,700th anniversary of the 311 Edict of Milan in Niš.

2014 visit of the Serbian president to venerate Saint Nikolaj

Vladika Milutin serving

In July, 2017, Bishop Lavrentije (Trifunović) of the Diocese (Eparchy) of Šabac solemnly marked 50 years of hierarchical service. At that time, Bishop Milutin awarded him with the Order of the Holy Bishop Nikolaj of the Diocese of Valjevo. Vladika Milutin and the Diocese of Valjevo wished to express their sincere gratitude to Bishop Lavrentije for the work he had done to bring the Valjevo Diocese back to being a distinct diocese (after 300 years of having been suppressed).

Bishop Milutin awarded Bishop Lavrentije with the Order of Saint Nikolaj

Near the end of March, 2020, Bishop Milutin and 2 priests were tested and diagnosed as suffering from the new coronavirus-19. Because Orthodox Christian bishops generally have close contact with many people (during liturgical services in particular), they are in a higher-risk category than many others.

Vladika Milutin entered the Dr. Dragiša Mišović Medical Centre in Belgrade, where he received the necessary treatment under the conditions of that time. Because of the newness of the virus, resources were limited, and there was no vaccine nor other possible cure as such. If it was needed, patients were helped to breathe with the help of ventilators. However, many older persons, the very young, and those who had a pulmonary weakness were not able to recover.

Repose, 2020

On 30 March, 2020, Bishop Milutin (Knežević) fell asleep in the Lord at the Dr. Dragiša Mišović Medical Centre in Belgrade, because of the effects of the coronavirus-19.

On Wednesday, 1 April, 2020, on the Feast-day of the Holy Martyrs Chrysanthus and Daria of Rome and others, and of Saint Simeon of Dajbabe Monastery, Serbia, the services for the newly-departed Bishop Milutin (Knežević) of Valjevo were offered. However, following the rules of the Serbian government regarding assemblies during the pandemic, very few persons were present.

Under these conditions, Patriarch Irinej (Gavrilović) of Serbia gave the blessing that Bishop Stefan (Sarić) of Remesiana (a Vicar-Bishop of the Patriarch of Serbia) and Bishop Isihije (Rogic) of Mohács, assisted by a small number of monks and clergy, would serve on this occasion. The paucity of the number was due to the state of emergency because of the dangers of the coronavirus-19 epidemic. Together, they served a Memorial Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, followed by the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Hierarch.

Panikhida for Bishop Milutin in Valjevo

Funeral of Bishop Milutin

Bishop Stefan (Sarić) of Remesiana at the coffin of Bishop Milutin

After the funeral services, the body of Bishop Milutin (Knežević) was entombed in Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Valjevo.

Bishop Milutin's tomb, and tomb inscription

— Bishop of Australia and New Zealand 2003-2006. Preceded by : Bishop Nikanor (Bogunović). Succeeded by : Bishop Irinej (Dobrijević).

— Bishop of Valjevo 2006-2020. Preceded by : Diocese restored. Succeeded by : Bishop Isihije (Rogić).

Reflections

Vladika Milutin's bishop in his earlier years was Bishop Jovan (Velimirović), a nephew of Saint Nikolaj (Velimirović). It was he who had tonsured him (as Mihajlo Knežević) to be a monk with the new name Milutin in the 1960s.

When Vladika Milutin was assigned to serve as the Bishop of Valjevo, it was an important fact for him that in this diocese are the relics of Saint Nikolaj (Velimirović) in the Lelić Monastery, and of Saint Justin (Popović) in the Ćelije Monastery.

Bishop Milutin (Knežević) was known for being an excellent organiser and for having an excellent vocabulary.

Bishop Milutin was known as a writer and theologian, and he wrote numerous articles, published in important theological journals.

Vladika Milutin was known to be a very good preacher, and his homilies were broadcast on Radio “Istočnik”.

Whether or not he was specifically aware of it, Vladika Milutin helped to prepare one of his successors in the Diocese of Australia-New Zealand for this responsibility when the time came.

From 2006, Bishop Milutin of Australia and New Zealand in Sydney became involved
in the spiritual formation of Alexander Mrakić, who had recently graduated from the
Orthodox Theological Faculty in Belgrade. Alexander was admitted as a novice
to the Saint Sava-New Kalenich Monastery near Canberra in Australia. Bishop Milutin
soon sent him to Valjevo in Serbia to continue his obedience, and from there he studied
at and graduated from the Moscow Theological Academy in Russia. Then, Bishop Milutin,
who was now the Bishop of Valjevo, tonsured Alexander Mrakić to be a lesser schema-monk
on 18 December, 2010, the day of Saint Sabas the Sanctified, in the monastery of the
Presentation of the Blessed Virgin, known as ‘The Desert’ (‘Pustinja’). Alexander was
given the name Siluan.

On 19 December, 2010, the Feast-day of Saint Nicholas the Wonder-worker of Myra in Lycia,
in the presence of the relics of Saint Nicholaj of Zhicha and Ochrid in Lelić, Bishop
Milutin ordained him to the Holy Diaconate. In 2012, Bishop Milutin blessed his further
postgraduate studies at the Greek Orthodox Theological College of Saint Andrew under the
jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, in his hometown of Sydney. After he graduated,
Bishop Milutin ordained the Hierodeacon Siluan to the Holy Priesthood on the Feast-day of the
Holy Archangels at the Cheliye Monastery, on 21 November, 2014, in the presence of the relics of
the Venerable Justin the New. On 19 December, 2014, on the Feast-day of Saint Nicholas
of Myra in Lycia, Bishop Milutin elevated Hieromonk Siluan (Mrakić) to the dignity of
Protosingel. Near the end of 2015, Bishop Milutin assigned Protosingel Siluan to serve
as the Dean of the First Deanery of Valjevo in Serbia.

At the regular May session of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox
Church In 2016, the Protosingel Siluan (Mrakić) was elected by the Holy Synod of
Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church to become the bishop of the
Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand. His Episcopal ordination was solemnised
on 7 August, 2016, at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Holy Archangel Michael in Belgrade. This was
followed by his enthronement on 22 October of the same year at the St George Historic Cathedral
in Cabramatta, New South Wales, at the hand of Bishop Longin (Krco) of New Gracanica-Midwestern
America.

Bishop Siluan (Mrakić) became Bishop Milutin’s successor in Australia-New Zealand, and he was the first Serbian bishop to be ordained in the 21st century.

By the time of the repose of Vladika Milutin, Valjevo was the third city in Serbia in terms of the number of persons infected with this disease. A few days before Vladika’s repose, the head of the University of Valjevo, Milorad Ilić, had died of the coronavirus disease.

Bishop Milutin had become the first Orthodox Christian bishop who died from the coronavirus-19 epidemic.

The letter from the clergy of his diocese was read at the funeral. It reported that as a bishop of the Church of Christ, Bishop Milutin had lived modestly. He did not aspire to stand out before the world, and everything related to him personally was understated. Because of this modesty, the personality of this archpastor and his worshipping spirit remained hidden from many who surrounded him.

Vladika Milutin always lived and taught in the Church. His personal example in his way of life taught people as much as his words about what are our priorities as Christians, and about what blessing there is in living in this manner. He gave to the Serbian Church, and to the diocese and people he served, the gift of spiritual exuberance. He was described as having had the heart of a shepherd who cared for the flock in a fatherly and a motherly manner. He was considered to have been their good father, pillar and rampart against the onslaught of this world. The souls of his spiritual children were strengthened and built up by this gentle, noble, righteous man.

On 30 September, 2020, Patriarch Irinej (Gavrilovic) led a Hierarchical Memorial Divine Liturgy and Panikhida at the 6-month commemoration of the repose of Bishop Milutin. Patriarch Irenej served with the

 assistance of the administrator of the Diocese of Valjevo, Bishop Lavrentije (Trifunović) 
 of Sabac ; Bishop Irinej (Bulović) of Bačka ; Bishop Jovan (Mladenović) of Šumadija ; 
 Bishop Isihije (Rogić) of Mohács ; and monastics and clergy from several dioceses 
 as well as of the Church Choir "Haji Ruvim".  Besides the relatives and friends of 
 Bishop Milutin and many local Faithful, representatives of state and local authorities, 
 medical, educational and other public institutions and prominent businessmen from the 
 Valjevo region took part in liturgical prayers.  His Excellency Valery Brilyov, 
 Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus to Serbia  and on a non-residential basis in 
 Northern Macedonia and Montenegro, and some diplomatic representatives of 
 several countries in Belgrade, paid a prayerful tribute to this important event 
 in the liturgical life of the Diocese of Valjevo.

Vladika Milutin